Trade Unions - Fed Govt. Help/Hinder Flashcards
What are the 4 paragraphs for this essay?
- Presidents and Congress Help
- Presidents and Congress Hinder
- Supreme Court Help
- Supreme Court Hinder
What are the points for Presidents and Congress help TUs? (3)
- NWLB in WWI and WWII
- FDR Presidency
- Nixon (70s)
What did NWLB do to help TUs?
Allows representation of workers, settles wartime disputes as alternative to striking. Allows employees to have a voice.
What did FDR Presidency do to help TUs?
N.I.R.A leads to NRA forming, regulating working hours and pay. Although declared unconstitutional, F.L.S.A 1938 reinforces. Wagner Act allows collective bargaining, although T-H undermines.
What did Nixon Presidency do to help TUs?
Age Discrimination Act and Occ. H+S Act 1970 improves working conditions.
What are the points for Presidents and Congress hinder TUs?
- Pullman 1894
- PATCO 1981
- Taft Hartley 1947
What did Pullman 94 do to hinder TUs?
2000 troops, 4 workers killed, leads to Omnibus Indictment to stop collective strikes. Therefore limits power and causes fear, damaging union activity
What did PATCO 81 do to hinder TUs?
Reagan says that 50s laws banning govt strikes make it illegal, forces return to work threatening dismissal. Causes drop in union activity.
What are the points for Supreme help TUs?
- Sherman Antitrust (Gilded Age)
- Clayton Antitrust
- Upholding of Wagner 1937
How did Sherman help TUs?
Curtails power of monopolies so workers aren’t heavily exploited. However requires reinforcement in 1914.
How did Clayton help TUs?
Reinforces Sherman A-T act, further limiting monopolies. However Carnegie 90% oil so didn’t work too well
How did upholding Wagner help TUs?
Allows collective bargaining, shows good attitudes towards unionism. Membership numbers rise. 1935 3.5mil, 1938 9mil
What are the points for Supreme Court hinder TUs?
- Lochner vs NY
- NIRA unconstitutional
- 1915 Coppage v Kansas
What did T-H Act do to hinder TU?
Prevents solidarity strikes and closed shop unions to limit bargaining power and progress. Reverses positives of New Deal.
What did Lochner v NY do to hinder TU?
1905, Declares limit on working hours unconstitutional. Allows employer exploitation of workers
What did NIRA unconstitutional do to hinder trade unions?
Undermines progress of the NRA on working hours and condition standards. However F.L.S.A 1938 rejuvenates this so limited impact
What did Coppage vs Kansas 1915 do to hinder TUs?
Permits the use of yellow dog contracts, limiting workers’ voice. However Ford, who used them, provided welfare capitalism so not too bad
Synthesis for Presidents and Congress help TU?
- FDR presidency and NWLB both improve working standards, one by coop, one by enforcement
- Nixon and FDR both pass legislation to improve worker welfare
Synthesis for Presidents and congress hinder TU?
- Pullman and PATCO both see major decline in union activity due to fear and injunctions
- Omnibus and T-H both prevent solidarity strikes to reduce power of the movement
Synthesis for Supreme court help TU?
- Wagner (congress) and supreme (upholding) work together to reduce stigma around TUs and encourage activity
- Clayton 1914 continuation of late 19th cent attitudes (sherman)
- A-T acts and NWLB both give employees greater say over their employers
Synthesis for Supreme Court hinder TU?
- Coppage v Kansas 1915 and Lochner v NY 1905 both allow exploitation of workers
- Coppage v Kansas and failed A-T acts both contribute to employer exploitation
Conclusion for Federal Government help/hinder TU
Did more to hinder as repeated backwards steps in allowing unionism, facilitated by supreme court and congress, epitomised by T-H Act.
