Trade Union Civil Rights

NLU

• 1886

• National Labour Union → 1st attempt to organise labour

The Haymarket Affair

• 1886

• 4 striking workers killed - German Anarchists blamed → racial divisions

• Ruined KOL reputation

Sherman Antitrust Act

• 1890

• Aimed to prevent monopolies (eg. John D Rockefeller) → employers still in power eg. Wage cuts

Lochner v New York

• 1905

• Declared maximum work hours as unconstitutional → supported employers

KOL (The Knights of Labour)

• 1869

• Aim - unite skilled + unskilled

• HMA ruined reputation - 1886 - 90s lost 600,000 members

AFL (The American Federation of Labour)

• 1886

• Replaced KOL

  • Samuel Gompers led → spoke with influential business men eg. JP Morgan who were prepared to mediate

‘Wobblies’ (Industrial Workers of the World)

• 1905

• Militant, violent reputation

• Defended poorer migrant workers → less effective - govt persecution

• Divisions → break

Homestead Strike

• 1892

• Employer Carnegie, no bargaining over wage conflict → strike

• Pinkerton agents + 8500 state troops sent in

• Workers returned on harsher ‘Fricks Terms’

Pullman Strike

• 1894

• American Railway Union organised strikes with Pullman workers

• President Cleveland ordered 1200 state troops → strike failed

WW1

(1914-18)

• Real wages ^ 20%

• 1916-20 union membership ^ 2.3mil

• Fed govt recognised unions - needed them onside for production

• National War Labour Board

BSCP

• 1925

• Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters - AA, mistreated job eg. Unpaid work

• 1937 signed bargaining agreement with Pullman Cars

Wall Street Crash

• 1929

• 25% unemployment - no govt support

NRA

(FDR - New Deal - 1933-38)

• 1933

• National Industry Recovery Act

• Developed codes of practice (employee + employer co-operations )

• 557 codes - but favoured employers

Wagner Act

(FDR - New Deal - 1933-38)

• 1935

• Reduce control of industrialists

• National Labour Relations Board - gave workers collective bargaining structure + could select own representatives

• Gave workers right to join unions

Fair Labour Standards Act

(FDR- New Deal - 1933-38)

• 1938

• Created minimum weekly wage + overtime hours

CIO

• 1937

• Congress of Industrial Organisations

• Low skilled - 3.7m members

WW2

(1939-45)

• National War Labour Board (1942) reestablished → adjudicate wage disputes, favoured unions

• Membership ^ 9m 1940-45

• Closed shop

• Strikes - 30 day notice + president could take over plant

Taft Hartley Act

• 1947

• Reverses some of Wagner Act

• Restricted union power

• Ban on closed shops, wildcat strikes + 60 day cooling off period

Kennedy’s ‘New Frontier’

• 1960-63

• Social Reform - partly successful

• Equal Pay Act 1963 - wage discrimination illegal

• Lack of Congress support → 1981 bill ^ minimum wage rejected

Johnsons ‘Great Soceity’

• 1963-68

• Priority v number living below poverty line → job creation + ^ social security spending

• Economic Opportunity Act 1964 - funding to train young people

AFL + CIO Merger

• 1955

• High point of unity - 16 mil members

• More bargaining power with major companies

PACTO Strike

• 1981

• Air Traffic Union - 17,500 - wanted less hours , more pay

• Reagan responded ‘Return to work in 48 hours or dismissal’

• Negative response from public + AFL