The Labor Movement

Colonial Times to the 1930s Most unions up until 1820 were skilled workers with strong bargaining power After 1820, immigrants began to arrive and posed a threat to unions From the Civil War to the 1930s manufacturing expanded and farming declined

Colonial Times to the 1930s Early unions formed to negotiate terms for their members Employers and courts opposed them First attempt to organize labor was in 1778 with printers of NYC

Colonial Times to the 1930s Working conditions were difficult in some industries – hostile feelings about unions declined Types of unions in industrial post-Civil War period Craft Union or Trade Union Industrial Union

Colonial Times to the 1930s Unions helped workers by Negotiating higher pay Helping job security Achieving better hours and working conditions

Colonial Times to the 1930s Workers would strike, picket, and even boycott if employers did not meet agreements. Employers fought back with a lockout or even a company union. Courts during this period held an unfavorable attitude toward unions

Labor Since the 1930s Common problems from the Great Depression united factory workers and renewed union efforts Congress passed a series of labor protection laws that supported organized labor during the 1930s, many are still in effect today

Labor Since the 1930s Union movement grew strong by the end of World War II Public opinion of unions began to shift again Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 allowed individual states to pass a right-to-work law

Labor Since the 1930s The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged in 1955 The AFL-CIO manages the majority of unions in the US Those not belonging to the AFL-CIO are called independent unions

Organized Labor Today Union arrangements Closed Shop Union Shop Modified Union Shop Agency Shop Get a book and define the different types of union arrangements, starts on page 203