Union Action Flashcards
What was the Molly Maguires incident?
1873 Molly Maguires – Irish immigrants concerned with improving working conditions. De-railed railway carriages, set fire to coal tips and murdered a superintendent. Made workers reluctant to join unions due to violent tactics and fear of employer intimidation.
What was the Haymarket Affair?
1886 Haymarket Affair – A strike at McCormick Harvester Plant, Chicago, saw police intervene and kill four strikers. The next day a protest march in town saw a bomb thrown killing seven policemen. Police intervened and killed four more workers. Trouble blamed on German immigrants with eight arrested and five executed. Workers reluctant to join violent unions and KOL’s reputation was destroyed with unions joining AFL or Industrial Workers of the World.
What was the Homestead Strike?
1892 Homestead Strike – Dispute between the Amalgated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Carnegie Steel Company at Homestead Steelworks near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Lasted 143 days and ended with battle between strikers and Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Unrest in 1882 and 1889 saw rise in union membership but in 1892 the company locked the union out of the plant as the collective bargaining settlement failed. Violence followed as the company wanted replacement workers and Henry Frick, company owner who was to break the union with militia, was shot and stabbed. Workers unconditionally surrendered. In 1891 24,000 members, fell to 10,000 by 1894. 1909 hit 6300. Carnegie Steel remained non-unionised for 40 years. Not a single steel plant in Pennsylvania was unionised in 1900.
What actions did employers have to hurt union rights?
Henry Ford opened a factory in 1927 and employed security men to attack and intimidate union organisers. During Pullman dispute of 20s and 30s the company sacked union leaders and used spies. In 1920s and 30s employers set up unions with their own benefits. After WWII particularly employers made workers sign no-strike and non-union agreement. Scab labour used in strikes. Once employers away NLRB was on their side, ignored wage agreements, hours, and conditions.
How did union membership fall to end of period?
1980 20 million union members fell to 16.5 million in 1995. Number of days lost to strikes had halved since 1980. Factories set in developing countries during the end of the period to decrease union recruits and service sector grew.
Outline 1894 Pullman Strike
1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act restricted monopolies. At Pullamn Strike government issued injunction limiting people from interfering with mail movement and President Cleveland sent 2000 federal troops to ensure movement of mail. 4 strikers killed. Supreme Court legalised injunctions and passed Omnibus Indictment Act banning strikers and workers’ representatives from persuading strikes. Reversed in 1935 with Wagner Act. 1914 Clayton Anti-Trust Act reduced injunctions and allowed peaceful picketing.
What public sector strikes broke out in 1970s?
There was a rise in strikes from public sector workers which alienated some. In 1970 there was the first nationwide strike of public employees where the US Postal Workers took action. In 1972 teachers went on strike when wages fell. In 1975 American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees took a strike involving 80,000.
LABOUR AND BLACK POWER: What was the Coalition of Black Trade Unions (formed 1972)
In 1972 the Coalition of Black Trade Unions, CBTU, was formed which represented 37 national unions. Assembly of 1200 black trade unionists was first and largest of its kind and wanted to promote position of black workers, particularly women, as AFL-CIO didn’t represent them.
LABOUR AND BLACK POWER: How was the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement formed? When was its first wildcat strike?
Militant black workers confronted police and troops in rebellions of 1964-7 and rejected liberal Democrats who told them to await job programs and improvements in housing – millions of black workers involved. In 1970 African Americans made 20% of AFL-CIO members and rose in numbers in auto industry. Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement was a movement of militant Black autoworkers and became active in SNCC. First wildcat strike held in 1968 at Chrysler Plant. Target of black militants was to achieve greater representation in unions and in skilled positions.
LABOUR AND BLACK POWER: Which union was hostile to DRUM? What was the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and how did it end?
The United Automobile Workers were hostile to DRUM. Refused to protect militants who were disciplined or fired from industry. DRUM set up political discussion groups at plants in Detroit. A Black Panther branch was formed in Detroit and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers promoted socialism. Working class strategy was an effective advance. In 1971 questions over if race or class caused divides led to League splitting and Black Workers Congress was launched while socialists set Communist League. BWC lasted a few months and CL survived much longer.
LABOUR AND BLACK POWER: How did strikes increase during BP movement?
There was a rise in white workers striking, but not definitely due to sympathy for black nationalist cause. 63.3 strikes per year between 1967-73, a rise from 20.4 strikes a year in early 1960s which coincided with the Black Power movement and League’s activity.
