workers rights

Workers’ rights

• By 1973, American labour unionshads the collective bargaining rights (the right to form a union and negotiate with employers)

In 1973, unions appeared powerful, over nineteen million Americans belonged to unions, and there were many strikes. The largest public employee strike in American history, two hundred thousand postal workers went on strike.

• 1.8 million employees were affected by strikes and lockouts in 19,74 when 40 million working days were lost.

• 19The 77 United Mine Workers ‘108-day strike led to fuel shortages and school closures.

Their delice

• It was becoming clear that labour unions were in decline.

• Out of the nineteen million worker,s only 27% were non-agricultural workers.workers

• Supreme Court had ruled common situs picketing (standing outside the workforce and doing nothing) illegal in 1951.

• During the seventies, rising unemployment, rising inflation saw a fall in living standards.

• Foreign competition and the relocation of businesses from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt destroyed communities.

• These developments increase unemployment and increase workers’ insecurity concerning employment, and weekend workers need to protect their rights.

However

• The equal pay act and the safety and work act both passed in 1970 both improve workers’ pay and condition.

• Employers were required to treat female a male workers equally and ensure greater safety for employees in the workforce.The

• Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed, and for the first time in history, people with disabilities were protected.

• When carter became president in 1977, hopes were high for a pro union legislation, an attempt to extend worker tights was put forwards in a law reform bill in 1978 – but gave few extra rights to workers.

Reasons for the decline

• Employers naturally disliked unions, and public opinions were often anti-union.Unionss were linked with communism

• Corruption scandals

• The belief that union strikes damaged the nation’s economy.

• Unions were strongest in the heavy and manufacturing industries.

• 1980, 80% of new private sector jobs were low-paid services and retail areas, and were harder to unionise.

• When the southern economy boomed, the unions failed to attract members.

• Loss of jobs, movement of industries led to thirty-eight million industrial jobs being lost.

• A combination of economic problems and increasing conservatism in national politics decreased union power and effectiveness.

-          Often lacked unity.

Non-unionised worker

• Those ionised work in low-wage or part-time employment and have very few rights.

• Many were women.