Trade Unions Flashcards
What was the positions of workers rights in 1865?
Workers could be exploited
they had no protection
they could be laid off or have their wages dropped at any time
there were few safety precautions
trade unions were small and only limited to skilled workers
there was no legal obligation to recognise a union and work with them
how did the American industrial period affect trade unions?
from 1860-1900
number of workers increased from 885,000 to 3.2 million
mainly closed shops unions so there was no strength in numbers and they had very limited power
industrialisation led to an increase in semi-skilled/unskilled workers (excluded from unions) (most workers were unskilled)
contract system meant that workers could be laid off during slack times
what were some of the key issues that affected workers?
children as young as 8 working in mines
long hours, 12+ hour shifts
dangerous conditions (in 1889 alone, 2000 railway workers were killed at work)
lack of compensation following accidents
health and safety was expensive and opposed to by employers
Courts considered that employer negligence was one of the normal risks of an employee
what was the first attempt of a labour union?
National Labor Union (NLU)
the first attempt to form a single association that would draw a mass of membership and cross craft lines
they campaigned for 8 hours a day about currency and banking reform, the ending of convict labour, a federal labour department and immigration restrictions
promoted the cause of working women
held a strike that failed, but this did not deter membership
What was the Knights of Labor? (KOL)
This attracted membership of the NLU after its demise
wished to unite skilled and unskilled labour and remove barriers of racial and cultural origins imposed by other unions (NLU)
demanded an 8 hour day, equal pay for women and the abolition of child labour
attempted to influence politics at a local and national level
reputation destroyed after Haymarket Affair 1886, lost influence and support
When was the Knights of Labor set up?
1869
When was the American Federation of Labor set up?
1886
What was the American Federation of Labor?
effectively replaced KOL after its foundation in December 1886
one of the first successful national labour federations seeking to link all unions and became the largest
wanted to raise wages and reduce hours, and give workers the rights for mediation and conciliation
had over 2 million members by 1914, although they still represented only a small percentage of the national industrial workforce
When were the Molly Maguire strikes and who were they?
1873
they were a group of Irish immigrant miners who violently protested for better working conditions
When was the Haymarket Affair?
1886
Who were the Wobblies and what did they do?
a more militant organisation with a reputation for violence
defence of the rights of the poor and of illiterate workers (immigrants)
mainly consisted of western miners, lumbermen, fruit pickers and travelling workers.
faced constant harassment through arrests and prosecutions by government officials.
Strength broken in 1924. Divisions occurring within leadership.
what factors affected the progression in trade union and labour rights in the Gilded Age?
Racial Tensions
Divisions between skilled and unskilled workers
Employers attitudes Immigrant attitudes to work
Lack of union membership and organisation
Lack of federal government support for workers
Violence
what racial tensions were there prevalent in trade unions?
whites vs African Americans vs immigrants
immigrants vs whites
what were employers attitudes like towards trade unions in the Gilded Age?
laisses-faire empowered capitalists (Carnegie = steel, Rockefeller = oil)
they could cut wages without warning, as well as changing hours and laying off workers
employers resisted union organisation and this is made evident through the fact that they employed labour spies
what evidence is there of lack of federal government support for trade unions?
the courts supported employers
Supreme court decisions impeded rights, such as Lochner vs New York- 1905, which did not uphold legislation to limit the number of hours a baker could work, as it argued this would restrict terms of employment (goes against 8 hour working day wished for by KOL etc)
federal injunctions were placed on strikes
What happened at the Haymarket Affair 1886?
created a foreign conspiracy (tension with immigrant workers with Protestant white workers)
German anarchists blamed despite no connection to the bomb
wanted an 8 hour working day
4 killed
70 wounded
8 anarchists convicted of conspiracy
What was the Sherman Anti-trust Act 1890?
government wanted to restrict monopolies by which large companies that were able to control trade
against the usual policy but government were concerned that companies could control or stop trade
How many members did the Knights of Labour have by 1886?
700,000 but membership fell following Haymarket Affair
how did the increase in African American workers impact white workers?
they were paid less and more of them so position of white workers was undermined
why was there division between skilled and unskilled workers?
industrialisation led to an increase in semi/unskilled workers who were excluded from unions
acceptance of bad working conditions angered many native-born American workers
Woodrow Wilson felt immigrants were creating ‘social chaos’
how many workers entered the USA between 1900 and 1930?
19 million
how did racial tensions weaken the progression of trade unions?
trade unions struggled to gain recognition and increase their influence and this saw millions of African Americans and immigrants as a serious threat and so discriminated against them by refusing them admittance to union organisations
a serious barrier to solidarity and progression!!! (needed the numbers)
Immigrant and white American workforce refused to work with African Americans
why was there a lack of union membership and organisation at the start of the period?
workers reluctant to join due to a sense of disapproval of their methods which were violent employer intimidation also put them off refusal to admit AA labourers not united limited power and effectiveness
what were immigrant attitudes to work like?
prepared to accept high levels of exploitation
women worked in sweatshop conditions, working 16 hours a day and did not oppose this due to fear of dismissal
Americans felt immigrants kept wages low and reduced their own bargaining power
What happened at the Homestead Strike 1892?
Carnegie Steel Company and its workers
Henry Frick wanted to break the union at the plant so they could reduce wages more easily
Frick locked workers out of the industrial plant
Protested the wage cut
It failed
3800 sacked
KOL was blamed
What happened at the Pullman Strike 1894?
nationwide railroad strike
Pullman company cut wages by 1/4 following economic depression
1/3 of the workforce was also made redundant
government supported the employers, firstly with an injunction which stopped anyone interfering with the movement of the mail
Cleveland sent federal troops to break the strike, then the Supreme Court legalised the use of injunctions which declared the strike illegal
Omnibus Indictment Act was then passed which disallowed workers from persuading others to take part in strikes
how much had union membership grown to by 1900?
500,000
even though the gaining of rights was slow
what did growth in membership allow trade unions to do?
they could pressure employers for recognition and then increased pay and better conditions
why may the Gilded Age be considered a key turning point for trade unions?
Industrial expansion and influx of migrants leads to issues for the unions and harsh treatment by the govt.
why may the World Wars be considered a turning point for trade unions?
establishment of the National War Labor Board during WW1
which leads to union concessions
Why is Roosevelt’s New Deal considered a turning point for trade unions?
establishment of the NIRA 1933, NRA and Wagner Act 1935 as well as Fair Labour Standards Act 1939
Roosevelt’s presidency probably saw the most help for workers from an administration
legislation allowed closed shops, collective bargaining , stopped companies from using blacklists and established minimum wage
by how much does factory production increase during WW1 years 1914-1918?
35%
Why did workers choose not to strike during the war years?
it was agreed due to yellow dog contracts
the government were preoccupied
the 1920s were known as the boom years, and there was a growth in consumer goods
therefore, workers were needed by employers and were more likely to be treated better, and recognised better
they did not strike due to fear of dismissal in a time of hardship
The numbers of workers involved in strikes decreased from 1 million in 1921 to 280,000 in 1929 but the number of strikes increased.
by how much does union membership increase from in 1916 to 1920?
2.7 million to 5 million in 1920
Why was the National War Labor Board brought in during WW1?
to represent and negotiate with workers
could be considered a form of welfare capitalism
What sort of things did the National War Labor Board introduce?
an 8 hour working day
in what ways were company ‘union reps’ limited?
they could negotiate with employers but were not allowed to strike or negotiate wages
by how much did real wages rise during the war?
20%
why did strikes increase after 1935?
due to issues post war and Depression
by how much did union membership increase during the 1930’s?
1935 = 3,584,000 union membership 1940 = 8,717,000 union membership 1946 = 14,322,000 union membership
in what ways did the Depression impact workers and trade unions?
unemployment rose to 25% in 1933, the same year, only 10% of the workforce was unionised
unemployment amounted to 13 million
strikes increased
employers had the right to sack striking workers due to yellow dog contracts
in what way did the NRA impact trade unions? (a type of alphabet agency)
the National Recovery Act improved the condition of workers by introducing a minimum wage and abolishing child labour
in what way did the SSA (Social Security Act) help workers?
this gave out pensions and benefits for people with disabilities who could clearly not work, to help them through economic hardship
in what way did the FSA (Farm Security Administration) help workers?
they lent money to sharecroppers who were clearly struggling
how did the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) help unemployment of workers?
provided work for 2.5 million men
this consisted of tree planting and flood control of national parks
what was the NIRA June 1933 and how did it help trade union and workers rights?
National Industrial Recovery Act
this established the benefit of the National Recovery Act
It agreed wage rates, working hours, working conditions and much more which clearly helped to give workers rights
workers were granted the right to organise trade unions
by 1934 557 codes had been passed and agreed which aided 23 million workers
the NIRA helped to improve relationships between workers and employers as it started to set standards
in what ways could the NIRA hinder the development of trade union and workers rights, and therefore could suggest the New Deal did not aid workers?
the positive effects of it were limited
some employers including Henry Ford refused to sign it and in actual fact many employers did not recognise the significance of the NIRA 1933 or the Wagner Act 1935
it became of thing of state rights vs the federal government
THE NIRA WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN 1935!!!
although it did have the potential to do well!
what is a company’s blacklist?
a list of workers that were regarded as unacceptable
what is a closed shop?
a workplace where one union dominates and workers have to belong to that union
what was the significance of the Wagner Act 1935?
passed after the NIRA was declared unconstitutional
it promoted trade unionism
Roosevelt feared TU’s could limit the control industrialists had over their workforce
it aimed to regulate and reduce labour disputes by providing a structure for bargaining
wanted to reduce picket line violence and disruption to production which was caused by strike action
Why was the Wagner Act effective?
it was the first piece of legislation to recognise the rights of workers to elect their OWN reps for bargaining
had the right to join trade unions
Declared constitutional in 1937
spies on shops floors and blacklisting agitators were banned
set up a National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) which could bargain on behlaf of workers who were unfairly dismissed
LED TO A HUGE INCREASE IN TU MEMBERSHIP ACROSS THE 1930’S
(from 3.7 million in 1933 to 9 million in 1938)
what is one of the main reasons trade union membership increased as a result of the Wagner Act?
due to the government backing the act and declaring it constitutional in 1937 workers felt they could join with ease and felt more accepted
why might the Wagner Act be considered ineffective?
disputes continued to occur as more people felt at ease to air their grievances
divisions within the movement deprived unskilled workers of their rights (gains only benefited skilled workers so those in manufacturing (mass productions = cars/textiles) often lost out) (issues from the start of the movement still present and so undermines the impact of Roosevelt’s New Deal as a turning point)
nobody represented unskilled workers
what happens in 1937?
8 of the AFL unions split to form the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organisations) and the split further weakens the progress of rights until it reforms in 1955
what was different about the Congress of Industrial Organisations?
aggressive leadership
established closed shop which was resisted by employers
encouraged whole-industry unions and they had 3.7 million members
Sit ins and sit downs became the new form of protest- used against car industry in 1937
Supported women and AA labour rights. AA’s encouraged to join in strikes!!!! - turning point?
what did the New Deal do for working women?
minimum wage established but upheld different pay levels (upheld by the NIRA and Fair Labor Standards Act 1938)
what did the Fair Labour Standards Act 1938 do?
established minimum wage
in what ways may WW2 be considered a good turning point in the progression of trade union and workers rights?
National War Labor Board was re-established in 1941
wage rises and increase in overtime pay boosted industrial earnings by 70% during the war
TU membership increased
made illegal to instigate strikes that would interfere with war production
fall in unemployment due to wartime demands
30 days notice of strike action was required
women in work increased by 50%, and in 1943, they were a 1/3 of the workforce
labour shortages provided work for the handicapped, African Americans and women
equal pay was opposed by unions and employers- (links to how not many women wanted it)
more than 1 million AA found jobs
in what ways may WW2 be considered a bad turning point in the progression of trade union and labour rights?
politically, it was believed trade unions were becoming too powerful
Taft-Hartley Act 1947 was passed which reduced union power
anti-communist focus on US policy after 1945
Taft-Hartley sought to purge organised labour of communist party, which heavily influenced CIO and so this disrupted and undermined CIO’s power, as well as divisions between communists and anti-communists
When CIO expelled 10 Communist led unions in 1949, it weakened their position to claim interests of unskilled working classes, It also deprived them of ⅓ of its members
what is peaceful picketing?
a form of protest in which people (called picketers) congregate outside a place of work or location where an event is taking place
what did Cleveland do to support trade union and labour rights?
Sherman Antitrust Act occurred in 1890 (outlawed monopolistic business practices)
Pullman Strike occurred in 1894 (sent 2000 troops an issued injunction, 4 killed…)
19th century was characterised by Govt. upholding position of employers against unions.
what did Wilson do to support trade union and labour rights?
Pushed the Clayton antitrust Act through Congress 1914.
on the whole not supportive
In 1916, under threat of a national railroad strike, Wilson approved legislation that increased wages and cut working hours of railroad employees
NWLB was no reflection of his personal views, merely an example of welfare capitalism to benefit the war front
what did Truman do to support trade union and labour rights?
He called for new public work programs, legislation guaranteeing ‘full employment’, a higher minimum wage, extension of FEPC
programme went nowhere!!!
Employment Act of 1946 was passed, but the measure had no teeth
Attempted to veto Taft-Hartley in June 1947
‘Fair Deal’ took place in 1949 which was a collection of policies including repeal of Taft-Hartley, minimum wage increase, national health insurance etc. But this went nowhere in Congress, only some parts were approved. Any enthusiasm for the ‘Fair Deal’ was lost by 1950, when attention grew towards the Korean War instead.
what did Kennedy and LBJ do for trade union and labour rights?
Equal Pay Act 1963 made wage discrimination on the grounds of gender illegal
Age Discrimination in Employment Act 1968. Banned discrimination of people in the age 40-60 age bracket and firing people in this age bracket. Covered promotions, wage levels and being laid off. Also ended age preferences within job opportunities
LBJ passed several acts that aimed to help trade unionists and their rights, but also wanted to help women and other ethnic minorities..
what did Nixon do for trade union and labour rights?
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1970 The CLUW (Coalition of Labour Union Women) 1974. Promoted affirmative action (positive discrimination), as they wanted to promote the role of women in the working world. This encouraged more women to join trade unions.
what did Carter do for trade union and labour rights?
Carter was unable to win support for his welfare reform proposals,
Humphrey–Hawkins Full Employment Act of 1978 committed the federal government to the goals of low inflation and low unemployment
Social Security Amendments of 1977 raised Social Security taxes and reduced Social Security benefits.
what did Reagan do for trade union and labour rights?
Aims of Reagan were to reduce powers of unions, remove restrictive regulations that admittedly hindered US industry, but often protected workers, and privatise publicly owned businesses, which again was not in the best interest of workers
PATCO strike 1981
what was the legislative impact of the Pullman strike 1894?
Omnibus Indictment Act- prohibited strikers and workers representatives from trying to persuade others to strike.
Remained enforced until Wagner Act 1935
What happened at the PATCO strike 1981?
PATCO occurred because gov,t were unwilling to allow air traffic controllers to be paid more for working fewer hours
It occured in contravention of a 1955 Act which prevented gov.t workers from striking
Reagan announced that if workers did not return within 48 hours, their contracts would be ended
Those who did not strike were told to keep air traffic moving- a turning point? Some think this redefined industrial relations and this was reflected in decline of strikes that followed
what happened as a result of the PATCO strike?
Increasing privatisation
Massive decline in union action and membership
Synthesis = PATCO + Pullman
what did the 1915 Coppage vs Kansas supreme court ruling allow?
the passing of yellow dog contracts
what did the 1923- Adkins vs Children’s Hospital supreme court ruling declare?
stated minimum wage laws violated the due process clause (affected workers liberty of contract)
why was the NIRA declared unconstitutional in 1935?
Supreme Court stated that they should not interfere in state affairs and NIRA regulations therefore could not be challenged as it would be declared unconstitutional
by how much did real wages rise during WW2?
70%
what was the long-term impact of welfare capitalism post-war?
a number of strikes as employers keen to gain back power and control
1919-1920 = 4 million workers involved in strikes
1946-1947 = 4.5 million workers involved in strikes
therefore clear that world wars only brought about temporary gains and employers wished to reduce these gains at the earliest opportunity