Trade Unions Flashcards
What were labour rights like in 1865?
Not very good - Trade unions were small and limited, as they did not have enough support behind them - all unions were separate. No legal obligation to recognise or cooperate with them. And industrialisation led to an increase in semi/unskilled workers being excluded from trade unions.
What were the main issues for workers in 1865?
Some children as young as 8 had to work in mines
12 hour shifts, dangerous conditions, lack of compensation following accidents, Health and safety was expensive and opposed by employers.
What were the 4 main unions which developed?
NLU, KOL, AFL and Wobblies.
What does the NLU represent?
The idea of working class solidarity
What does NLU stand for?
National Labour Union
What did the NLU campaign for?
8 hour days, currency and banking reforms, ending of convict labour (slave labour), a federal labour department, immigration restrictions and promoted the cause of working women.
What was the NLUs legacy?
They were short lived, as between 1866 + 1867, a strike by iron founders failed which weakened their position, however it did not deter membership. 1868 had membership of 3,000 across USA but deterred in 1869 after the death of it’s leader.
Who did the KOL represent?
Wanted to unite skilled and unskilled labour as well as removing barriers of racial and culture origin imposed by existing labour associations. They also supported women
What does KOL stand for?
Knights of Labour
What did KOL campaign for?
8 hour day, equal pay for women and abolition of child labour.
Where did the membership of the NLU go after its demise?
To KOL
What destroyed KOLs reputation and what did this lead to?
The violence of the ‘Haymarket affair’, led to membership dwindling to 100,000 in 1890s and many of it’s members turned to the AFL or the Wobblies.
What success boosted KOLs membership in 1886?
The Wabash Railroad strike which boosted membership to 700,000 which included 50,000 AAs and 10,000 women.
What did the AFL represent?
It wanted to link all unions together to become the largest, effectively replaced the KOL.
What does AFL stand for?
American Federation of Labour
What did the AFL campaign for?
Wanted to stand up to large corporations, concentrated on practising the goals of raising wages and reducing hours. They did support the use of boycotts and strikes, Its leader (Gomper) also seeked reform through legislation.
What was the AFLs legacy?
It had over 2 million members by 1914 but still only represented a small percentage of the national industrial workforce. It was also the only remaining major national federation of trade unions in 1924 as well as playing a significant role in labour relations until 1992.
What year was the AFL founded?
1886
What year was KOL founded?
1869
What did the Wobblies represent?
They were a more militant organisation with a reputation of violence which meant that employers regarded them with suspicion.
What does Wobblies stand for?
Industrial Workers of the World
What did the Wobblies campaign for?
Defending the rights of poor or illiterate workers, e.g immigrants
When did membership of the Wobblies peak?
1923 with 100,000 members who were mainly western miners, lumbermen, fruit pickers and travelling workers.
When were the Wobblies founded?
1905
What were the Wobblies legacy?
Their use of violence and sabotage meant they faced constant harassment through arrests and prosecutions. Divisions occurred within the leadership in 1924 which broke their strength.
What were the 7 factors that limited the progress of Trade Unions and Labour rights?
Racial tensions
Divisions between skilled and unskilled workers
Employers attitudes
Immigrant attitudes to work
Violence
Lack of union membership and organisation
Lack of fed gov support
Where did the Racial tensions occur which limited the progress of trade unions?
Immigrants vs Whites
Immigrants and whites vs AAs
What was the Haymarket affair and what did it cause?
They were violent strikes in Chicago in which police and workers were killed. The violence was blamed on Germans and seen as a sign of hatred towards the new immigration of the late 19th, early 20th century.
Caused worsened existing tension as arrival of new immigrants as well as foreign blame.
Why were a mass of workers unwilling to join Unions?
They disprove of methods or because of employer intimidation.
What were Unions take on immigrants?
Unions were anti-immigration and unwilling to admit them.
What positive internal factors did WW1 have on labour rights?
There was a union membership increase from 2.7 million in 1916 to 5 million in 1920, Trade Unions did not strike in the war years and the number of workers involved in strikes decreased from 1 million in 1921 to 280,000 in 1929. However, the number of strikes did increase.
How did capitalism and big businesses limit progress of trade unions?
There was a small number of highly successful capitalists controlling several key industries making monopolies on them.
Manufacturers could also cut wages, lay off workers and changing working hours without warning.
Who were the two highly successful capitalists controlling and making monopolies on key industries - and what industries did each of them do this with?
Andrew Carnegie (Steel) John D Rockefeller (Oil)
What attitude did the government have to labour rights and why?
Laissez- Faire. They were focused more on business and money.
How did the Supreme Courts and partiality of the law limit the progress made by trade unions and labour rights?
Authorities and courts supported the employer
Supreme Courts were ultimately limiting in what pieces of legislation they passed.
Why can WW1 be seen as a turning point for labour rights?
As the government supported them (they had to) as the government needed them to help with the war effort. However post 1919, they crushed them. So it was a turning point but it was short lived.
What was the overall impact of WW1 on labour rights?
Government had more involvement with unions which caused a membership rise from 2.7 million to 5 million by 1920 and there was an eight hour working day implemented.
What does the fact there were more internal than external factors during WW1 on labour rights demonstrate?
There was not much union power in the 1920s.
What negative internal factors did WW1 have on labour rights?
A series of strikes broke out in Seattle in 1919 so the mayor called federal forces to crush the striking workers. Company union reps could also negotiate but they could not call strikes or negotiate wages.
What was ‘Welfare Capitalism’
It caused a fall in unemployment, real wages rose, and It included improving workers conditions, reduced working hours and gave benefits such as insurance or pensions. Company Unions were also created.
What were the 1920s known as?
The Boom Years. There was a Marked growth in consumer goods.
What did the NWLB implement which benefited labour rights?
An 8 hour working day.
What was the ‘Red Scare’ and what impact did this have on workers rights?
1920, fear of communism. (came about after Russian revolution) Led to measures against left-wing organisations and suspicion of anyone with left-wing beliefs. Many employers became concerned with growing workers rights.
What was Nativism?
Protecting the interests of native-born.
Why did Nativism grow in popularity during WW1?
It was a need to protect the interests of American businesses in a hostile manner, which came as a result of the suspicions of communism.
Why did many employers adopt ‘Welfare Capitalism’ during WW1?
In order to avoid strike action as they needed workers to work in order to help with the war effort.
What barrier did AAs face to unionisation?
There were divisions between the Union movement, AAs were banned from unions (had their own BSCP).
They were not included in unions as AAs were typically unskilled workers while unions focused on skilled workers. They were also disposable and worked more for less.
What did TUs gain in the 1920s?
Economic prosperity - wages rose, consumer goods
20s Nativism - fear of communism
Giant corporations - merging smaller companies
What was the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP)?
An AA led union, led by Philip Randolph.
