Trade unions 1970-92 Flashcards
Why did the Air Traffic Controllers Strike in 1981 happen?
PATCO called a strike to bring air traffic over all the US to a standstill, they wanted a $10,000 pay rise and a reduction in working week from 40 hours to 32 and better retirement benefits.
What happened in the PATCO strike?
13,000 of 17,500 obeyed the call and walked out. Negotiations with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had resulted in the idea that more pay for less hours was unacceptable to the government.
The strike went ahead, planned to coincide with summer vacations, was likely to have a devastating impact on commercial air traffic and potentially damage the national economy.
How did Reagan respond to the PATCO strike in 1981?
He responded quickly and decisively, on the same day he announced that if workers were not back within 48 hours, their contracts would be terminated. He followed it through and gave a lifelong employment ban.
Non-striking controllers were supported by 900 military ATC to minimise damage. Training programmes accelerated to replace those lost.
What did the public feel towards the Air Traffic Controllers strike in 1981?
They were unsympathetic. They thought that the actions of these already well paid workers as being against public interest.
What did the AFL-CIO think of the strike and what happened to PATCO?
AFL-CIO, some call Reagan a ‘union-buster’ but others are annoyed the action has brought unions into disrepute. PATCO doesn’t survive, leaders were sent to prison for ignoring court injunctions.
How can the PATCO strike be seen as a turning point?
Negative, the response of the fed government and the FAA led to a re-definition of labour relations in the USA. Incidences of strike action plummeted.
What are the key indicators to note that the PATCO strike was a turning point?
Hostility of the Republican Government under Reagan.
Changes in tactics by employers, the use of blatant scab labour.
Lack of expression of solidarity from other workers.
Negativity of the public towards the strike who were perceived to be holding the country to a ransom.
What was union membership and action like by 1992?
Membership of industrial unions had fallen from 27% in 1970 ot 12% by 1990.
Incidences of major stoppages due to strikes also fell from 381 in 1970 to 187 by 1980 and 31 between 1980 and 1995.
What are the 4 main factors that caused a decline in organised labour from the late 70s?
Changing economy and structure of American industry.
Changing composition of workforce.
Shift in the ‘balance of power’ between employers and labour unions.
Changing political attitudes and policies.
How had economic growth changed by the mid-1970s and why?
Economic growth was slowing down. This was partly due to increase in foreign competition in manufacturing industry that reduced the demand for home produced goods.
Rising inflation, pulls up costs. By 1979 prices up 13%.
Fall in real wages of 80% of semi-skilled and unskilled workers and rise in unemployment.
What had happened to skilled workers from 70s to 90s?
Further expansion of the high-tech industry created an increased need for highly-skilled workers whose wages rose significantly.
A majority got richer whilst a minority (unskilled) got poorer.
How was union action limited by immigration in the 1970s - 90s?
A new wave of immigrants from Asia increases division in workforce which is a problem. They work for less and don’t complain.
Why did white collar workers not feel the need to join unions?
They benefit from generous welfare schemes provided by employers.
How did the balance of power shift between employers and trade unions by 1992?
The determination of employers to keep business buoyant in the face of increased competition and reduced profits led them to seek power over unions.
Un-unionised firms flouted the law in dealings with workers in order to keep wages low and profits high.
How did government help give employers the edge over unions again in the late part of the period?
The trend of denial of rights was encouraged when it was shown employers could get away with it.
Complaints made to the National Labour Relations Board were processed so slowly that it was clear signal to employers that they could risk pushing the boundaries of the law.
Air Traffic Controllers Strike gave more encouragement to employers.
How did Carter influence labour?
Him and Congress established an hourly minimum wage at $2.65.
But attempts by the CIO-AFL to introduce reforms to the National Labour Relations Act of 1935 failed.
How did Reagan influence labour and their rights?
He set out to curb union power.
He lifted restrictive regulations to give employers greater autonomy.
Ruthless response to PATCO shows his stance on unions and gave a clear message to employers.
He put radical officials on the Labour Relations Board to be in favour of the employer.
What remained of trade unionism by 1992?
It had significantly declined but not disappeared.
Strikes were mainly local and small scale.
