Labor Unions From the NLU to today

Why unionize? American Civil War spawned a boom in US industry Factory owners had almost total control over hours and wages Huge immigrant influx provided surplus of cheap labor During the 1860’s, average work week was 60 hours at $.10 an hour (usually 7 days a week)

Why unionize Many factory workers lived in company owned housing. Shopped at company owned stores Owners garnished wages to pay debts No such thing as vacation, sick leave, regard for worker safety or job security

Birth of unions National Labor Union: formed in 1866 by William Sylvis Focused on joining small, existing unions together Encouraged unions to admit all workers, regardless of sex or race (unsuccessfully) Succeeded in gaining 8 hour work day for government employees Dissolved as result of Recession of 1872

Knights of Labor Founded in 1868, a first attempt at organizing individual workers into unions All inclusive; skilled and unskilled workers, regardless of race or sex (except Chinese) Argued for 8 hour work day for all, ending child labor, equal pay for equal work (radical) and replacing capitalism (radical) Used strikes as a last resort Strengthened position by successful strikes against Wabash Railroad Cos.

Knights of Labor Downfall caused by three issues Radical views lost it public support Rift between skilled and unskilled members (lost many skilled members to AFL) Haymarket Riot (Chicago) of 1886 By 1900, KoL was dead

American Federation of Labor Formed in 1886 by Samuel Gompers Used strikes as a major tactic, introduced collective bargaining Helped win higher wages and shorter work weeks during the 1890s-1910’s Represented primarily skilled workers (non- factory laborers)

AFL and CIO AFL remained dominant union organization until 1930’s. Stayed mostly apolitical until WWI (Democratic) Dissent within AFL led to split in 1937 John L. Lewis led UMW and other left- leaning unions to for Congress of Industrial Organizations. AFL and CIO reunited in 1955 as AFL-CIO

Public pressure Held unions in check during the 1880’s due to Haymarket, Homestead, and B&O Railroad incidents Opinions change in early 1900’s The Jungle (1906) by Upton Sinclair Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911

Government involvement Most early involvement favored businesses Government used injunction to force workers off the picket line (Pullman Strike of 1894) New Deal era saw “new deal” for labor

New Deal Era Norris-La Guardia Act (1932): allows workers right to join unions, prevents employers from forbidding union membership, restricts power to issue injunctions Wagner Act (1935): requires owners to bargain in good faith with unions, guarantees workers right to unionize Fair Labor Standards Act (1938): established minimum wage, 40 hour work week, and restricted child labor (why you are in school, instead of working full time!)

Beyond New Deal Union’s power has slowly eroded since the 1950’s (35% of private sector workers were in unions) Loss of many manufacturing jobs has hurt unions (ie, steel in 1980’s, tech and auto in 1990’s-2000) Government has backed away from supporting unions on economic grounds (ie Gov. Walker – WI, Gov. Kasich – OH) un/07/scott-walkers-win-permanent-defeat-us- labor-unions un/07/scott-walkers-win-permanent-defeat-us- labor-unions