Trade unions

Cesar Chavez

He was a Mexican- American labour and civil rights leader. He campaigned for farmers and organised strikes (e.g. Salad Bowl Strike), boycotts and fasts while committing to non-violence. He started the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA, 1962) which then merged and grew to become the United Farm Workers (UFW).

Pullman Strike of 1894

This was when mail workers went on strike, Cleveland sent in 2000 federal troops to break the strike, and in the violence 4 protesters were killed.

1890

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was a government attempt to restrict monopolies by which large companies were able to control a trade.

May 1886

Haymarket Affair: a strike at the Chicago McCormick Harvester Plant resulted in violence between police and strikers. Overall 8 strikers and 7 police were killed. This was blamed on German immigrants (despite no evidence) so 8 were arrested and 5 were killed. This encouraged the dislike of unions and divided the labour movement. It ruined the reputation of the KOL (who were destroyed as a result) and led to an even greater distrust of immigrants.

Taft-Hartley Act of 1947

This act prevented closed shops (where only 1 union was in charge) to limit their power because politicians were threatened by unions.

Laissez-Faire

This is an economic belief that the government should not interfere in the economy and that business owners should be allowed to manage their affairs free from regulations.

1970

Occupational Safety and Health Act (Nixon) which was good because the Department of Labor set the standards, not the employer.

Great Society

This was Johnson’s policy relating to government involvement in social reforms and civil rights.

1892

Homestead Strike: a strike between the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Carnegie Steel Company in Pennsylvania, which lasted 143 days. The union were locked out of the plant and violence followed the search for replacement workers. Henry Frick (who had been brought in to break up the union) was stabbed and the strike collapsed. There was a decline in membership from 24,000 in 1891 to 10,000 in 1894. In 1900 there was not a single steel plant in Pennsylvania that was unionised. Even employers in other industries became suspicious of giving unions recognition.

1964

Civil Rights Act which aimed to prevent discrimination when employing workers.

PATCO strike of 1981

The strike happened because the government was unwilling to allow air traffic control workers to be paid more for fewer hours. It was a turning point because it set the tone that unions wouldn’t be tolerated. Reagan wanted to crush the strike: he claimed they contravened against the 1955 Act which prevented government workers from striking and said that their contracts would be cancelled if they didn’t return to work in 48 hours. Many were fired and new controllers were trained and recruited. The number of strike dropped by half.

Between 1963-68 there were several key reforms

Equal Pay Act, CRA, Economic Opportunities Act and the Age Discrimination Act

700,000 in 1886

Membership of the KOL (one of the first influential unions who’s reputation fell after the Haymarket Affair)

American Federation of Labor

This union replaced the KOL (est 1886) and aimed to unite all unions

Industrial workers of the world

aka Wobblies, this union had a reputation for violence and militancy.

2 million

By 1914, unions had this many members and represented 20% of the workforce.

20%

During WW1, the NWLB led to this percent increase in wages and an increase in membership from 2.7 - 5 million.

1935

Randolph’s Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was finally recognised after 10 years.

1941

Ford first recognised unions for collective bargaining.

National Labor Relations Act (NLRA aka Wagner Act)

1935: established the NLRB, workers finally had the right to join unions, elect representatives and undertake collective bargaining. Spies against unions was banned and as a result there was an increase in membership (3.7 million in 1933 - 9 million in 1938). But this did not give agricultural workers the right to join unions.

1936

General Motors recognised unions

1937

US Steel recognised unions

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)

1933: encouraged firms to agree to codes of practise but was declared unconstitutional in 1935.

1938

Fair Labor Standards Act gave almost everyone a weekly minimum wage (ignored women, agricultural and domestic services)

70%

Increase in real wages during WW2, membership was as high as 15 million.

1963

Kennedy’s Equal Pay Act aimed to abolish wage disparity based on sex

1964

Economic Opportunity Act established social and training programmes

1968

Age Discrimination Act prevented discrimination of anyone older than 40

1955

Merger of the AFL and CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) gave unions measurably more power.

20%

By the 1960s, union workers had wages this percent higher than non-union workers.

500,000

By 1900 there were this many union members, but divisions and a lack of government support meant that workers were often exposed to poor conditions.

25%

This percent were unemployed by 1933.

35%

The average income of workers was this percent higher in 1955 than at the end of WW2.

75%

By the 1950s, many workers had access to consumer goods. E.g. this percent owned cars.

50%

During the 1950s, union membership fell by this percent due to changes in the economy: there was a decline in blue-collar work while white-collar employee were often forced to sign no-strike clauses etc.

John Rockerfeller

Became a billionaire controlling oil refineries - the practise of government lack of involvement favoured employers and allowed them to built large corporations.

Andrew Carnegie

Became incredibly rich through steel production as a result of his industrial complexes which were unregulated.

1894

The SC legalised injunctions to better control workers and issued the Omnibus Indictment Act (prohibited strikers and workers’ representatives from encouraging others to strike).

1914

Clayton Anti-Trust Act limited injunctions and allowed peaceful picketing.

1905

Lochner v. NY rejected the law that regulated the number of hours a baker could work due to a need to protect these bakers (SC did not support worker rights).

1915

Coppage v. Kansas: allowed yellow-dog contracts

1923

Adkins v. Children’s Hospital suggested that a federal minimum wage for women was unconstitutional because it was an infringement on the liberty of contract.

New Frontier

Kennedy’s policy where he promised to maintain a commitment to the American way of life and the pioneering tradition through the space race.

Carter’s Presidency

The establishment of the minimum wage, but this president did not care enough to reform the NLRA.

Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL)

In 1903 this was established to encourage women to organise themselves.

1962 New York Hospital Worker’s strike

During this strike women acted much more proactively and militant suggesting a continuing divide.

Coalition of Labor Union Women

In 1974 this was created and became affiliated to the AFL-CIO to support women’s needs. It was created because other unions were not bothered by maternity or childcare rights etc.

Molly Maguires

1873: Irish immigrant miners in Pennsylvania who wanted better working conditions. The eventual murder of the station superintendent led to many workers being reluctant to join unions because of they didn’t agree violence or fear of intimidation from employers.

1927

Ford’s factory opened with security men to attack and intimidate strikers or union members.

20 million

Union members in 1980

16.5 million

Union members in 1995

60%

During the Gilded Age, wages for skilled workers rose by this percent. But the wages of unskilled workers were about 30% of those of skilled workers.

2000

Working conditions were very poor during the Gilded Age. E.g. this many rail workers were killed in accidents in 1889.

1937: West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish

SC case that upheld a minimum wage and ended the “Lochner era”.