workers (specific) Flashcards
Knights of Labor, 1869
first significance national union federation gaining a significant membership i.e. 700,000 1886
industrial union seeking to change the nature of capitalism
inclusive union with AA and female membership although it also supported the Chinese Exclusion Act!
successfully supported the ‘Great Upheaval’ 1886 i.e. railway strikes
employer counter attack culminated in post Haymarket ‘red scare’
Great Railroad strike, 1877
widespread and violent national strike illustrating the potential power of unions (consider the ‘Great Upheaval 1886)
intervention of federal troops to suppress strike setting a precedent for later federal government (Hayes) intervention (consider Pullman 1894)
use of injunctions to stop strikes
long term significance and change i.e. first federal government intervention in labour dispute
AFL (business union), 1886
most significant national union federation until the 1930s
business unionism i.e. acceptance of capitalism (conservative aims)
largely exclusive membership i.e. skilled, white and male
by 1900 estimate membership of 700,000
Pullman strike, 1894
widespread and violent national strike
intervention of federal troops to suppress strike (Cleveland)
use of injunctions to stop strikes leading to In Re Debs 1895
long term significance and change i.e. constitutionality of injunctions
Coal strike (federal intervention and neutrality), 1902
federal government intervention (TDR) to ensure mediation and resolution to strike
employers not forced to recognise the right to collectively bargain or right to strike
short term significance and change
WWI (NWLB)
federal government intervention to ensure improved conditions for workers and no strikes and right to collectively bargain
limited impact i.e. short term
followed by Great Steel strike 1919 and employer counter attack
1934 strikes
nationwide strikes often violent
key significance in pressuring federal government to replace NRA 1933 and voluntary codes with compulsory rights i.e. Wagner Act 1935
long term significance and change i.e. federal government neutrality (see Wagner Act)
Wagner Act, 1935
significant long term impact (still in place by end of paper in 1992) although limited by Taft Hartley 1947
change in attitude of federal government to neutrality
right to strike, right to collectively bargain and closed shop
excludes agricultural workers and domestic servants i.e. significant limitation to union rights (FDR)
union membership 3.5 million in 1935 compared to 8.7 million in 1940
CIO (industrial unionism), 1935
most significant national union federation of 1930s and 1940s gaining significant membership of 3.5 million by 1939
industrial union seeking to change the nature of capitalism and gain industrial democracy i.e. workers to gain influence in how businesses are run
inclusive union with AA and female membership that is unprecedented
pressures AFL into organization drive culminating with AFL membership of 4 million by 1939
purging of CIO in 1949 undermines radical nature of the CIO (Operation Dixie) i.e. evolves into a business union
GM sit-down strike (federal intervention and neutrality), 1936-37
indicative of union power and influence and extension of collective bargaining into auto industry (previously unorganized)
indicative of neutral stance of federal and state government with national guard preventing use of violence against strikers
Taft-Hartley Act, 1947
long term significance and change in attitude of federal government
‘right to work’ i.e. open shops permitted on a state by state basis
Southern states introduce ‘right to work’ severely limiting union power and influence throughout the South
limits Wagner Act but does not eliminate it i.e. Wagner remains in place in most of the US states by 1960s (‘right to work’ enforced in 17 states by 1960)
long term significance could be the threat of companies to relocate
purge of the CIO and effective end to industrial unionism
AFL-CIO merger, 1955
represents 85% of the total unionized workforce
35% workforce unionized
significant solidarity
business unionism
continued success dependent on federal government neutrality
Executive order extending union rights to public sector workers, 1962
extension of collective bargaining to federal/public sector workers
significant increase in inclusivity of AFL-CIO i.e. many AAs and women are federal employees
right to strike not extended under executive order (JFK)
Great Postal Strike (public sector unions right to strike), 1970
widespread national strike (in comparison to localised Sanitation strike 1968)
de facto extension of right to strike to federal employees
Nixon forced to concede to union demands without repercussions i.e. technically an illegal strike under 1962 executive order
long term significance limited by PATCO strike
Reagan presidency and PATCO Strike, 1981
significant change in attitude of federal government i.e. neutrality of the New Deal era (Wagner Act) replaced by anti-union stance
PATCO strike sets precedent for employers to follow (Phelps Dodge and Hormel strikes) e.g. use of replacement workers
Dotsons appointment to the NRLB empowers employees and undermines power and influence of unions
significant decline in union membership by 1992 i.e. 12% compared with 22% in 1980
