Workers - Role of Government

what were the government attitudes to unions from 1865- 1933?

Very anti union, courts until 1890 ruled that work bases injuries were normal risk, Unions were not illegal but had no rights to collective bargaining

When was the sherman anti trust act and what was it?

1890, made it illegal for any union to interfere with trade, made it easier to break strikes

what was the homestead strike and when was it?

1892 - was broken by the power of big businesses and the use of state militia, led to collapse of the Amalgamated Association, made other industries reluctant to accept unionisation of workers

When was Pullman strike and what happened?

1894 - employers refused to collective bargaining, strike was broken by non union drivers and president cleveland sent in federal troops.

what supreme court case followed the pullman strike and what was the outcome?

In re:debs and it meant that the use of injunctions against unions was upheld

What does wilson create and why?

Creates the new department of labour in 1913 due to support from the AFL, began the move towards more regulation

when and what was the clayton anti trust act?

1914, limited the use of court injunctions against strikers and allowed peaceful picketing and strikes

Impact of the first world war on unions?

Fed gov created the national war labour board to mediate in disputes and ensure production continued, most employers followed boards request for an 8 hr day

how much does union membership increase by from 1916-1920

from 2.7m to 5m

What was the impact of the red scare?

between 1919 and 1920, many fear communism so the wave of strikes 1919 often ended with state militia and gov troops

when was the norris le guardia act passes and what did it do?

1932, outlawed the use of yellow dog contracts and fully outlaws court injunctions against peaceful strikes. Lays foundation for the new deal measures

what does FDR pass in 1933? what does it do? why was this impact small?

National Industry Recovery act, gave workers the right to form unions and collective bargaining.

NRA is judged to be unconstitutional in 1935 by the sc

impact of wagner act?

1935, gave workers the right to join unions and take part in collective bargaining. employees no longer allowed to use spies, company unions or blacklists also introduces the national labour relations board to ensure disputes were solved. found constitutional by sc 1937

what did union membership increase from and to in 1933- 1938

3.7m to 9m

what and when was the fair labour standards act

1938, created a $25 minimum weekly wage

what was the impact of ww2 on workers and unions - position of employers, wage inc, union m’ship

weakened the position of employers, national war labour board set up again in 1941.

over the war average industrial wages rose by 70%

union membership inc from 8.9m in 1940 to 14.8m 1945

what negative thing does fdr do in 1943

gained the power to seize control of factories which were threatening strike action in essential war industries. all strikes in essential war industries banned and made illegal

what was the impact of the cold war?

1945, led to fear of communism and suspicions against the labour movement and unions, led to republican efforts to try and weaken unions

what was the taft hartley act and when was it?

1947, made closed shops illegal and gave states the right to work acts which stopped closed shops.

what act strengthened the taft hartley act and when?

Landrum Griffin act in 1959, banned unions from striking to show sympathy with the strikes of a seperate union

what was the impact of JKF’s new frontier 1960-63?

increased minimum wage from $1.15 to $1.25. equal pay act 1963

impact of LBJ’s great society 1963-68?

Civil rights act 1964 outlawed job discrimination, economic opportunity act 1964 established an organisation to help train young people in vocational skills, age discrimination act 1968 outlawed discrimination for the people ages between 40 and 65

Nixons impact?

Affirmative action started in 1969, passed the occupational safety and health act 1970 - the first time where employers were forced to ensure the safety of workers.

carter impact

increased minimum wage to $2.65 in 1978, but he refused to strengthen the wagner act even when under pressure from AFL-CIO

reagan impact

determined to curb unions and through 1981 to 1989 he used his power to appoint members of the national labour relations board that were anti-union