Labor UnionsLabor Unions

From the NLU to todayFrom the NLU to today

Why unionize?Why unionize?

American Civil War spawned a boom in American Civil War spawned a boom in US industryUS industryFactory owners had almost total control Factory owners had almost total control over hours and wagesover hours and wagesHuge immigrant influx provided surplus of Huge immigrant influx provided surplus of cheap laborcheap laborDuring the 1860’s, average work week During the 1860’s, average work week was 60 hours at $.10 an hour (usually 7 was 60 hours at $.10 an hour (usually 7 days a week)days a week)

Why unionizeWhy unionize

Many factory workers Many factory workers lived in company owned lived in company owned housing.housing.

Shopped at company Shopped at company owned storesowned stores

Owners garnished Owners garnished wages to pay debtswages to pay debts

No such thing as No such thing as vacation, sick leave, vacation, sick leave, regard for worker safety regard for worker safety or job securityor job security

Birth of unionsBirth of unions

National Labor Union: formed in 1866 by National Labor Union: formed in 1866 by William SylvisWilliam SylvisFocused on joining small, existing unions Focused on joining small, existing unions togethertogetherEncouraged unions to admit all workers, Encouraged unions to admit all workers, regardless of sex or race (unsuccessfully)regardless of sex or race (unsuccessfully)Succeeded in gaining 8 hour work day for Succeeded in gaining 8 hour work day for government employeesgovernment employeesDissolved as result of Recession of 1872Dissolved as result of Recession of 1872

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor

Founded in 1868, a first attempt at organizing Founded in 1868, a first attempt at organizing individual workers into unionsindividual workers into unionsAll inclusive; skilled and unskilled workers, All inclusive; skilled and unskilled workers, regardless of race or sex (except Chinese)regardless of race or sex (except Chinese)Argued for 8 hour work day for all, ending child Argued for 8 hour work day for all, ending child labor, equal pay for equal work (radical) and labor, equal pay for equal work (radical) and replacing capitalism (radical)replacing capitalism (radical)Used strikes as a last resortUsed strikes as a last resortStrengthened position by successful strikes Strengthened position by successful strikes against Wabash Railroad Cos.against Wabash Railroad Cos.

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor

Downfall caused by three issuesDownfall caused by three issues

Radical views lost it public supportRadical views lost it public support

Rift between skilled and unskilled members (lost Rift between skilled and unskilled members (lost many skilled members to AFL)many skilled members to AFL)

Haymarket Riot (Chicago) of 1886Haymarket Riot (Chicago) of 1886

By 1900, KoL was deadBy 1900, KoL was dead

American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor

Formed in 1886 by Formed in 1886 by Samuel GompersSamuel Gompers

Used strikes as a major Used strikes as a major tactic, introduced tactic, introduced collective bargainingcollective bargaining

Helped win higher wages Helped win higher wages and shorter work weeks and shorter work weeks during the 1890s-1910’sduring the 1890s-1910’s

Represented primarily Represented primarily skilled workers (non-skilled workers (non-factory laborers)factory laborers)

AFL and CIOAFL and CIO

AFL remained dominant union AFL remained dominant union organization until 1930’s.organization until 1930’s.Stayed mostly apolitical until WWI Stayed mostly apolitical until WWI (Democratic)(Democratic)Dissent within AFL led to split in 1937Dissent within AFL led to split in 1937John L. Lewis led UMW and other left-John L. Lewis led UMW and other left-leaning unions to for Congress of leaning unions to for Congress of Industrial Organizations.Industrial Organizations.AFL and CIO reunited in 1955 as AFL-CIOAFL and CIO reunited in 1955 as AFL-CIO

Public pressurePublic pressure

Held unions in check during the 1880’s due to Held unions in check during the 1880’s due to Haymarket, Homestead, and B&O Railroad incidentsHaymarket, Homestead, and B&O Railroad incidents

Opinions change in early 1900’sOpinions change in early 1900’s

The JungleThe Jungle (1906) by Upton Sinclair (1906) by Upton Sinclair

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911

Government involvementGovernment involvement

Most early involvement favored Most early involvement favored businessesbusinesses

Government used injunction to force Government used injunction to force workers off the picket line (Pullman Strike workers off the picket line (Pullman Strike of 1894)of 1894)

New Deal era saw “new deal” for laborNew Deal era saw “new deal” for labor

New Deal EraNew Deal Era

Norris-La Guardia Act (1932): allows workers Norris-La Guardia Act (1932): allows workers right to join unions, prevents employers from right to join unions, prevents employers from forbidding union membership, restricts power to forbidding union membership, restricts power to issue injunctions issue injunctions Wagner Act (1935): requires owners to bargain Wagner Act (1935): requires owners to bargain in good faith with unions, guarantees workers in good faith with unions, guarantees workers right to unionizeright to unionizeFair Labor Standards Act (1938): established Fair Labor Standards Act (1938): established minimum wage, 40 hour work week, and minimum wage, 40 hour work week, and restricted child labor (why you are in school, restricted child labor (why you are in school, instead of working full time!)instead of working full time!)

Beyond New DealBeyond New DealUnion’s power has slowly eroded since the 1950’s Union’s power has slowly eroded since the 1950’s (35% of private sector workers were in unions)(35% of private sector workers were in unions)

Loss of many manufacturing jobs has hurt unions Loss of many manufacturing jobs has hurt unions (ie, steel in 1980’s, tech and auto in 1990’s-2000)(ie, steel in 1980’s, tech and auto in 1990’s-2000)

Government has backed away from supporting Government has backed away from supporting unions on economic grounds (ie Gov. Walker – unions on economic grounds (ie Gov. Walker – WI, Gov. Kasich – OH)WI, Gov. Kasich – OH)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/07/scott-walkers-win-permanent-defeat-us-jun/07/scott-walkers-win-permanent-defeat-us-labor-unionslabor-unions