Workers Thematic

Question 1

How many people did the violence of the Haymarket Affair kill? (1886)

Answer 1

7 policemen and 4 civilians

Question 2

What was the Homestead Strike (1892)?

Answer 2

Dispute between the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and Carnegie steel. Involved violence and the stabbing of Henry Frick. Carnegie Steel remained without unionisation for another 40 years.

Question 3

What was the significance of the Pullman Strike? (1894)

Answer 3

The government supported the employer, initially issuing an injunction. President Cleveland sent in approximately 2000 federal troops to break the strike. The Supreme Court legalised the use of injunctions which meant the strike could be declared illegal.

Question 4

When was the Haymarket Affair, Homestead Strike and Pullman Strike?

Answer 4

Haymarket Affair (1886)
Homestead Strike (1892)
Pullman Strike (1894)

Question 5

What was the Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)?

Answer 5

It limited the use of injunctions and allowed peaceful picketing.

Question 6

What was federal policy during WWI to ensure that production levels were maintained?

Answer 6

The National War Labor Board was established. The length of working hours was limited to eight and the right to join a union was guaranteed, but in return workers agreed to a no-strike policy.

Question 7

What was ‘Coppage vs Kansas’ (1915)?

Answer 7

The Supreme Court ruled that yellow dog contracts were constitutional.

Question 8

What was the impact of the 1920s for the strength of unions?

Answer 8

Introduction of welfare capitalism:
i) Often came in return for no-strike agreements, abandoning the right to negotiate wages.
ii) Company unions set up in some industries
iii) General Motors and US steel resisted unionisation

Question 9

What was the impact of the Railway Labor Act on the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters?

Answer 9

Led by Phillip Randolph, they were finally able to gain recognition in 1935. Pullman began to negotiate with them, within a year the union had enrolled 51%.

Question 10

What was the impact of NIRA on the legal strength of unions?

Answer 10

NIRA enshrined in law the right of workers to partake in collective bargaining and organise unions. However, not all employers signed the code, for example, Henry Ford. In 1935, the Supreme Court declared NIRA unconstitutional and most gains were reversed.

Question 11

What was the impact of the Wagner Act on the legal strength of unions?

Answer 11

a) It established the National Labor Relations Board which could negotiate on behalf of workers and prevent companies from using their own unions.
b) The right to collective bargaining and joining a union was enshrined.
c) Using spies against unions was banned.
d) General Motors and US steel were forced to accept unions.
e) Importantly, the Wagner Act was declared constitutional.

Question 12

What did the Taft-Hartley Act do? (1947)

Answer 12

It banned closed shop unions.

Question 13

What was established in 1975 as a result of the work of Cesar Chavez?

Answer 13

The California Agricultural Relations Board which would oversee collective bargaining.

Question 14

What characterised the 1970s-90s for the strength of trade unions?

Answer 14

The growth of non-unionised firms. The NLRB was less willing to defend union rights.

Question 15

How did Reagan respond to the PATCO strike?

Answer 15

Reagan took a hard line with the PATCO strike. He announced that if workers did not return within 48 hours, they would lose their jobs. Those who did not strike were promoted to keep air traffic moving and a training programme for new controllers was sped up. Reagan showed a willingness to use scab labour.

Question 16

Other than PATCO, how else did Reagan weaken the position of trade unions?

Answer 16

Reagan ensured that the President made appointments to the Labour Relations Board, and thus they supported his views so that disputes would likely favour the employer.

Question 17

What was the impact of ethnic divisions in the Gilded Age?

Answer 17

The emancipation of African Americans and immigration from Europe and Asia meant that there was a pool of workers who were willing to work for lower wages and in worse conditions. Employers could fire white workers and replace them with AAs or immigrants. As a result, these workers were viewed as a threat and were excluded from the AFL.

Question 18

What was the impact of WWI on union membership? 1916-1920

Answer 18

2.7 million (1916)
5 million (1920)

Question 19

What was the impact of the Wagner Act on union membership?

Answer 19

1933: 3.7 million
1938: 8 million
Even General Motors and US steel were forced to accept them.

Question 20

What was the significance of the establishment of the Congress of Industrial Organisations in 1937?

Answer 20

It represented unskilled workers, African Americans, immigrants, and women. This was significant as although it initially led to less unity, it had the long-term impact of beginning to unite the union movement and gave representation to largely forgotten sections of the workforce.

Question 21

What was the impact of WWII on union membership?

Answer 21

The government re-established the National War Labour Board which encouraged workers to join unions.
1938: 8 million
1945: 15 million

Question 22

Why was the AFL-CIO unification significant in 1955?

Answer 22

It brought 85% of workers into one unit. Its 16 million workers could exert pressure over wages and conditions.

Question 23

Why did union membership decline as a percentage of the population from the 1960s onwards?

Answer 23

Transition from blue to white collar jobs, as well as the introduction of women into the workforce, who were less likely to unionise. As jobs became more high-tech and wages rose, there was less of an incentive to unionise. The division between skilled and unskilled workers was evident in the lack of sympathy towards the PATCO workers.

Question 24

Why were working conditions so poor at the start of the period?

Answer 24

a) Workers were often hired under contracts which meant they could be easily fired.
b) Long hours in factories, little safety precautions, large number of accidents.
c) The Laissez-Faire attitude of government meant that monopolies were established in many industries for example, oil and steel. These monopolies could exploit employees on wages and conditions.

Question 25

What was the outcome of ‘Lochner vs New York’ (1905)?

Answer 25

The Supreme Court ruled that it was not necessary for the law to protect the health of workers.

Question 26

What was the impact of WWI on wages?

Answer 26

Wages rose by 20%.

Question 27

What was the impact of the 1920s on workers’ conditions?

Answer 27

The boom of the 1920s saw a rise in real wages and a fall in unemployment. Welfare capitalism was introduced- pensions, insurance, reduction in working hours, and other benefits. For example, Henry Ford cut the working day to eight hours, doubled the daily wage to $5 and introduced profit sharing.

Question 28

What did unemployment peak at during the Great Depression?

Answer 28

25%

Question 29

How did NIRA aim to improve workers’ conditions?

Answer 29

NIRA encouraged firms to agree codes of practice which dealt with improving hours, wage rates and union rights. However, some employers such as Henry Ford resisted.

Question 30

What did the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) introduce?

Answer 30

A minimum wage of 25 cents an hour. It also outlawed child labour.

Question 31

What was the significance of the Society Security Act (1935)?

Answer 31

The Social Security Act of 1935, established a pension system for workers, unemployment and disability benefits, as well as benefits for victims of industrial accidents. This was significant as it provided a safety net for workers (for the first time).

Question 32

What was the impact of WWII on wages?

Answer 32

Wages rose by 70%.

Question 33

What were average incomes in 1960 compared to the end of WWII?

Answer 33

35% higher

Question 34

What did the Equal Pay Act do? (1963)

Answer 34

It gave men and women equal pay for equal work.

Question 35

What did the Economic Opportunity Act (1964) do?

Answer 35

It aimed to combat unemployment and poverty.
i) Job training
ii) Adult education
iii) Loans to small businesses

Question 36

What did the Age Discrimination Act (1968) do?

Answer 36

It protected those over the age of 40 from age discrimination.

Question 37

What did the ‘Occupational Health and Safety Act’ do (1970)?

Answer 37

It aimed to provide a working environment free from hazards and insanitary conditions. Department of Labor set the standards which meant that employers had little influence.