union unity and division and the impact of immigration

Question 1

summary

1 point

Answer 1

1. much easier for gov/employer to restrict rights of workers when not unified

Question 2

skilled and unskilled workers

8 points

Answer 2

1. unions skilled - don’t want unskilled workers joining (threat)
2. lack of unions for unskilled
   problem until ww1 and new deal era
3. gradual change in 30s
   some unions break away from AFL -> Congress of Industrial Organisations CIO 1935
4. split initially weakened labour movement
   Ultimately gave unskilled workers representation
5. CIO and AFL merged in 1955 AFL-CIO
   membership of over 15 million
   could exert far more pressure on employers
6. merger important because
   divisions between blue and white collar workers limited labour influence
7. new unity allowed labour movement some gains particularly over wages

Question 3

blue and white collar workers

3 points

Answer 3

1. from 1950
   decline of blue collar workers
   rise in white collar workers
2. WCW less likely to join unions, more likely to sign no-strike agreements
   weakening union membership and influence
3. lack of solidarity evident in divisions over PACTO strike of 1981

Question 4

ethnic divisions

3 points

Answer 4

1. from 1865
   free AA and European immigrants - concerned threat to jobs
   many immigrant ALSO unwilling to work alongside AA
   during strikes employers employed AA
   AA source of cheaper labour
   refusal to allow AA to join unions further weakened labour movement
2. 20th century
   AA form own unions because of racist attitudes of some unions (e.g. Phillip Randolph)
   even during CRM unions did little to help position of AA
3. latter part of period
   arrival of immigrants from Asia particularly after Vietnam War 1955-73
   many accept lower wages and willing to work for firms who ran non-union enterprises

Question 5

gender divisions

6 points

Answer 5

1. number of women entering workforce increased during period particularly in 20th century
2. main issue faced discrimination
   payed less
   many men saw them as threat to their jobs
3. concerned about equal pay
   less concerned with union activity - weakened labor movement
4. WW2
   dramatic increase in working women
   some joined unions
5. post war
   many work in service industries (no unions)
6. women in hightech industries reluctant to join unions - already had benefit of pensions and other welfare schemes