History & Function of Labor Chapter 8

What Is Labor? “Labor” refers to the civilian workforce The “Labor Movement” refers to unions

What Is a Union? A union is a group of workers who negotiate collectively (rather than individually) for better pay, working conditions, benefits, etc. Two types of unions: Craft Union/Trade Union: Associated of skilled workers who perform the same kind of work E.g.: Electricians’ Union, Plumbers’ Union Industrial Union: An association of all workers in the same indsutry, regardless of the job each worker performs E.g.: AFSCME, UAW, etc.

An Origin Story

Goals of Labor Unions Increased Pay Better Working Conditions More workers kept coming to America every day (immigration) and this kept wages low Better Working Conditions No safety regulations at all Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire End Child Labor

Artwork of the Labor Movement

Union Tactics Strike Picket Boycott Refusal to work until demands are met Picket Striking workers parade in front of the employer’s business carrying signs about the dispute Boycott Mass refusal to buy products from a company

Union Membership by State Ask: “Why do some states have higher percentages of Union Membership than others?”

Critiques Unions raise prices Unions are conspiracies against labor Workers demand higher wages; increase passed on to the consumer Unions are conspiracies against labor Prosecuted under Sherman Antitrust Act Also, Act 10

Union Membership Rates

Wealth vs. Unions

Minimum Wage

Unions Today Public sector workers (teachers, firefighters, police) are 5 times as likely to be in an union as private sector workers Men are more likely to be in a union than women; blacks are more likely to be in a union than any other racial group Industries with heavy unionization rates include utilities, transportation and warehousing, telecommunications, and construction -Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics