Marx on Unions

Knights of Labor Knights of Labor Knights of Labor Formed as a semi-secret society in Did not admit “unproductive” bankers, lawyers, doctors, stockholders, gamblers, liquor dealers Formed as a semi-secret society in Did not admit “unproductive” bankers, lawyers, doctors, stockholders, gamblers, liquor dealers Became a public organization in 1879, more directly involved in union activities Became a public organization in 1879, more directly involved in union activities Admitted women (Mother Jones), blacks and unskilled labor Admitted women (Mother Jones), blacks and unskilled labor Over 1 million members by 1886, wins several successful railroad strikes Over 1 million members by 1886, wins several successful railroad strikes Decline: Haymarket Riot, Failed strikes after Pinkerton and militia repression, AFL woos away skilled workers Decline: Haymarket Riot, Failed strikes after Pinkerton and militia repression, AFL woos away skilled workers

International Workers of the World IWW (Wobblies) Founded in 1905, organized textile workers, migrant farmworkers, lumber workers, Founded in 1905, organized textile workers, migrant farmworkers, lumber workers, Industrial unionism, faith in the rank and file rather than leadership Industrial unionism, faith in the rank and file rather than leadership Free speech campaigns Free speech campaigns The general Strike The general Strike Crippling Repression, especially after their opposition to WWI and during Crippling Repression, especially after their opposition to WWI and during the red scare that followed the red scare that followed From the IWW Charter From the IWW Charter The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.... Instead of the conservative motto, 'A fair day's wage for a fair day's work', we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watchword, 'Abolition of the wage system.' It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism.[4] The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.... Instead of the conservative motto, 'A fair day's wage for a fair day's work', we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watchword, 'Abolition of the wage system.' It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism.[4][4]

American Federation of Labor (AFL) Founded in 1886 Founded in 1886 Samuel Gompers , Samuel Gompers , Craft Unionism, skilled workers Craft Unionism, skilled workers Conservative “unionism plain and simple” Conservative “unionism plain and simple” Works for the best deal for workers within the system Works for the best deal for workers within the system No support for a labor (or other) parties No support for a labor (or other) parties Instead.. Instead.. "reward your friends and punish your enemies" "reward your friends and punish your enemies"

American Exceptionalism 1. Working Class Divisions: Immigration, Race 1. Working Class Divisions: Immigration, Race 2. “Liberal” Culture 2. “Liberal” Culture 3. Early Extension of Voting Rights 3. Early Extension of Voting Rights 4.No Feudalism 4.No Feudalism 5. Employer/State Resistance 5. Employer/State Resistance **Radicals crushed: Knights of Labor /IWW **Radicals crushed: Knights of Labor /IWW

U.S Union Membership as % of the Workforce

Union Membership (in millions)

Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Industrial vs. Craft Unionism Industrial vs. Craft Unionism Significantly more militant than the CIO, with a large left (including communist) presence Significantly more militant than the CIO, with a large left (including communist) presence Sit Down strikes Sit Down strikes Major victories: auto, steel, rubber, longshoremen Major victories: auto, steel, rubber, longshoremen

The Wagner Act (1935) 1. Explicitly guaranteed the right to join a union 1. Explicitly guaranteed the right to join a union 2. Required employers to bargain with recognized unions 3. Allowed a majority vote of employees to empower a union to negotiate for all employees 4. Created the National Labor Relations Board to enforce these rules and to supervise elections.

The Taft-Hartley Act (1948) 1. Allows the president to order a 60 day cooling off period before a strike. 1. Allows the president to order a 60 day cooling off period before a strike. 2. Allows right to work laws 2. Allows right to work laws 3. Bans the Closed Shop (Only union members hired) 3. Bans the Closed Shop (Only union members hired) 4. Bans secondary strikes and sympathy boycotts.. 4. Bans secondary strikes and sympathy boycotts.. 5. Allows for court injunctions against mass picketing 5. Allows for court injunctions against mass picketing 6. Holds national unions liable for the actions of their members 6. Holds national unions liable for the actions of their members (such as wildcat strikes breaking a contract) (such as wildcat strikes breaking a contract) 7. McCarthyism-hits union radicals hard (many of whom are, in fact, communists.) Particularly aimed at radicals in the CIO. 7. McCarthyism-hits union radicals hard (many of whom are, in fact, communists.) Particularly aimed at radicals in the CIO.

Voss and Fantasia “Relational Analysis” Material Conditions: The System of Rules Governing Unions The Balance of Power between Workers and Employers Type of Person: Bureaucrat, Strongman, Militant Symbolic: The Place of Unions in the Public Imagination “Special Interest” or “Social Justice” Consumer or Worker

Business/Push Button Unionism Material Material Negotiation and Enforcement of Long-Term Contracts Negotiation and Enforcement of Long-Term Contracts Grievance resolution based on legalistic contract language Grievance resolution based on legalistic contract language Focus on servicing existing union membership Focus on servicing existing union membership -- Cooperative relationship with employers -- Distance from the Rank and File -- Antiradicalism Type of Person: Bureaucrat or Strongman Bureaucrat or StrongmanSymbolic Unions as “special interests” Unions as “special interests”

Labor and the Cold War Funded by USIA USAID Funded by USIA USAID American Institute for Free labor Development in Latin America (AIFLD), Asia-American Free Labor Institute American Institute for Free labor Development in Latin America (AIFLD), Asia-American Free Labor Institute African American Labor Center. African American Labor Center National Endowment for Democracy 1983 National Endowment for Democracy Labor, Business, Republican and Democratic Parties Labor, Business, Republican and Democratic Parties In the 1980s, roughly half of the AFL-CIO’s budget came from the state department. In the 1980s, roughly half of the AFL-CIO’s budget came from the state department.

Intervention Guatemala 1954 Guatemala 1954 Chile 1973 Chile 1973 Central America 1980s Central America 1980s Kissinger-Kirkland Kissinger-Kirkland South Africa Buthelezi, South Africa Buthelezi, Attempts to undercut anti apartheid Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the rest of the liberation movement. Attempts to undercut anti apartheid Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the rest of the liberation movement. Solidarity Poland Solidarity Poland Support for conservative, sometimes pro-business unions Support for conservative, sometimes pro-business unions Attempts to undercut their more leftist rivals Attempts to undercut their more leftist rivals

What happened? Corporate Counter Attack Corporate Counter Attack Employee Based Welfare State Employee Based Welfare State Globalization Globalization

Corporate Counterattack Number of Decertification Elections Number of Decertification Elections Number of Labor Violations Number of Labor Violations , , , , , ,000 Number Fired for Union Activity Number Fired for Union Activity , , , , , ,000

The unsustainability of the private welfare state: Healthcare cost per vehicle

Globalization U.S.--from U.S.--from international trade went from 9% to 25% of U.S. GNP international trade went from 9% to 25% of U.S. GNP Foreign Direct Investment from 5% of U.S. GDP in 1970 to 30% in 2000 Foreign Direct Investment from 5% of U.S. GDP in 1970 to 30% in 2000

10,000 Pontiac LeMans Early 1990s 3,000 to South Korea for labor and assembly 3,000 to South Korea for labor and assembly 1,750 to Japan for advanced components 1,750 to Japan for advanced components 750 to Germany for styling and design engineering 750 to Germany for styling and design engineering 400 to Taiwan for “small components” 400 to Taiwan for “small components” 250 to Britain for advertising and marketing services 250 to Britain for advertising and marketing services 50 to Ireland and Barbados for data processing 50 to Ireland and Barbados for data processing Leaving about 3,800 to U.S inputs Leaving about 3,800 to U.S inputs

Impact of Globalization Exit and Threat of Exit Exit and Threat of Exit Maytag Galesburg Maytag Galesburg Heightened competition Investors finally got news from Maytag that they can cheer today: The home appliance maker said it was going to close a facility in Galesburg Illinois and lay off 1,600 workers, or about 8% of its total staff. Investors finally got news from Maytag that they can cheer today: The home appliance maker said it was going to close a facility in Galesburg Illinois and lay off 1,600 workers, or about 8% of its total staff. The announcement sent shares of Maytag soaring by more than 7%. What Wall Street liked is that Maytag is finally moving its production to a low cost country.... The announcement sent shares of Maytag soaring by more than 7%. What Wall Street liked is that Maytag is finally moving its production to a low cost country....

Social Movement Unionism 1. Organize from the bottom up 1. Organize from the bottom up 2. Rely on Corporate Campaigns 2. Rely on Corporate Campaigns 3. Willing to look beyond routine NLRB path to recognition 3. Willing to look beyond routine NLRB path to recognition 4. Strong Orientation to Social Justice 4. Strong Orientation to Social Justice 5. Creative and Innovative in Style 5. Creative and Innovative in Style 6. “Self-Expanding” Sees actions as part of a long term process 6. “Self-Expanding” Sees actions as part of a long term process What might this mean in practice? You are trying to organize janitors… What might this mean in practice? You are trying to organize janitors…