The Labor Movement Chapter 8, Section 1

Macroeconomics: economy as a whole (employment, gross domestic product, inflation, economic growth and distribution) Macroeconomics: economy as a whole (employment, gross domestic product, inflation, economic growth and distribution) Civilian labor force: women and men 16+ actively looking for a job Civilian labor force: women and men 16+ actively looking for a job

Early Union Development Unions = skilled workers and collective bargaining power Unions = skilled workers and collective bargaining power Colonial Times – Civil War Colonial Times – Civil War 1778 – New York City printers1778 – New York City printers Shoemakers, carpenters and tailorsShoemakers, carpenters and tailors 1820 – majority of workforce farmers1820 – majority of workforce farmers

Early Union Development (continued) Civil War – 1930s Civil War – 1930s Attitude towards unions became positive Attitude towards unions became positive Demand for goods and services increasedDemand for goods and services increased Shortage of workersShortage of workers Industry expandedIndustry expanded Farming industry declinedFarming industry declined Hourly workers ¼ of the working population Hourly workers ¼ of the working population

Types of Unions Trade (craft) union: skilled workers performing the same kind of job (printers, electricians, engineers, carpenters) Trade (craft) union: skilled workers performing the same kind of job (printers, electricians, engineers, carpenters) Industrial union: association of workers in the same industry regardless of specific job Industrial union: association of workers in the same industry regardless of specific job

Union Activities When agreements could not be reached the unions could… When agreements could not be reached the unions could… StrikeStrike PicketPicket BoycottBoycott Employers might… Employers might… LockoutLockout Company unionCompany union

Attitudes of the Courts English Common Law: conspiracies against business English Common Law: conspiracies against business Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): curbed monopolies, kept labor in line Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): curbed monopolies, kept labor in line The Danbury Hatters case: conspiracy to restrain trade under the Sherman Antitrust Act The Danbury Hatters case: conspiracy to restrain trade under the Sherman Antitrust Act Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): exempts labor unions from prosecution under the Sherman Act Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): exempts labor unions from prosecution under the Sherman Act

Great Depression 1 in 4 workers without a job 1 in 4 workers without a job 1929 average wage was 55 cents 1929 average wage was 55 cents 1933 average wage was 5 cents 1933 average wage was 5 cents Common problems united factory workers and union promoters renewed their efforts to organize Common problems united factory workers and union promoters renewed their efforts to organize

Great Depression: Pro-Union Legislation The Norris-LaGuardia Act (1932): The Norris-LaGuardia Act (1932): federal courts cannot issue rulings against unions organized is peaceful strikes, picketing or boycottsfederal courts cannot issue rulings against unions organized is peaceful strikes, picketing or boycotts The National Labor Relations Act / Wagner Act (1935): The National Labor Relations Act / Wagner Act (1935): Collective bargainingCollective bargaining NLRB to police unfair labor practicesNLRB to police unfair labor practices

Great Depression: Pro-Union Legislation (Continued) The Fair Labor and Standards Act (1938): The Fair Labor and Standards Act (1938): Businesses that engage in interstate commerceBusinesses that engage in interstate commerce Federal minimum wage, time-and-a-half (40+ hours)Federal minimum wage, time-and-a-half (40+ hours) Prohibits excessive child laborProhibits excessive child labor

Labor Since World War II Many believed communists secretly entered unions Many believed communists secretly entered unions 1946 – 116 million work days were lost due to work stoppages 1946 – 116 million work days were lost due to work stoppages Was management the problem? Was management the problem?

Labor Since World War II: Antiunion Legislation Taft-Hartley Act (1947): Taft-Hartley Act (1947): Limited what unions could do in labor- management disputesLimited what unions could do in labor- management disputes Employers can sue unions for breaking contracts Employers can sue unions for breaking contracts Prohibits unions from requiring union membership as a condition for hiring Prohibits unions from requiring union membership as a condition for hiring 80-day “cooling off” period 80-day “cooling off” period

Labor Since World War II: Antiunion Legislation (continued) Right-to-work law: Section 14(b) Right-to-work law: Section 14(b) illegal to force workers to join unionillegal to force workers to join union Landrum-Griffin Act (1959): Landrum-Griffin Act (1959): requires unions to file regular financial reportsrequires unions to file regular financial reports Limits amount of money officials can borrow from unionLimits amount of money officials can borrow from union

AFL American Federation of Labor (AFL) American Federation of Labor (AFL) 1886 – organization of craft unions1886 – organization of craft unions Later added industrial unionsLater added industrial unions Craft and industrial unions disagreed on the future of labor movementCraft and industrial unions disagreed on the future of labor movement

CIO Committee for Industrial Revolution (CIO): Committee for Industrial Revolution (CIO): 1935: 8 AFL industrial unions created CIO 1935: 8 AFL industrial unions created CIO Bring about greater unionization in industry Bring about greater unionization in industry 1937: CIO expelled from AFL 1937: CIO expelled from AFL 1940s: 7 million members 1940s: 7 million members

AFL-CIO 1955: AFL and CIO joined forces to create AFL-CIO 1955: AFL and CIO joined forces to create AFL-CIO Now a major force in the union labor movement Now a major force in the union labor movement Independent unions: unions that do not belong to the AFL-CIO (Brotherhood of Locmotive Engineers) Independent unions: unions that do not belong to the AFL-CIO (Brotherhood of Locmotive Engineers)