1. The Role of Labor

2. Chapter 9 Section 3
Organized Labor in the United States

3. The Labor Movement’s Rise to Power
Early Developments
Earliest unions were local craft unions; in 1830s began federations
National Trades Union was first national federation
In 1869, Knights of Labor organized workers by industry; grows to become nationwide organization
In late 1800s, employers resisted workers’ efforts to organize
government often used violence to end strikes, such as Carnegie Steel and Pullman strikes

4. The Labor Movement’s Rise to Power
A New Model for Unions
Violence, controversial politics led to decline in union membership
1886 Samuel Gompers founded American Federation of Labor—craft unions
at first focused on using economic power of workers
legal action against unions led to support of pro- union candidates
Other actions by International Ladies’ Garment Workers, Mother Jones

5. The Labor Movement’s Rise to Power
Unions Gain Power
During Great Depression membership declined as people lost jobs
Several New Deal laws helped workers and unions:
Norris-LaGuardia, National Labor Relations, Fair Labor Standards Acts
Congress of Industrial Organizations organized industrial unions
United Auto Workers, United Mine Workers became powerful in 1930s–1940s

6. The Labor Movement’s Rise to Power
Backlash Against Unions Following World War II
Post-World War II period of anti-union legislation
Taft-Hartley limited union activities, allowed government intervention
Fear of Communism led to more restrictions
Landrum-Griffin banned communist officers, required close accounting
AFL-CIO’s George Meany got rid of unions sympathetic to communist ideas

7. The Labor Movement’s Steady Decline
Loss of Reputation and Labor Force Changes
Unions looked bad: long strikes, featherbedding, organized crime ties
Lost members: economy shifted from manufacturing to service
Today, many contingent and contract workers who do not organize
Unions have now shifted efforts to service industries

8. The Labor Movement’s Steady Decline
Right-to-Work Laws
Closed shop—business had to hire only union members; now outlawed
maintained union standards for temporary workers
Union shop—business where workers had to join union within set period
allowed hiring of non-union workers without weakening union
Right-to-work laws—make it illegal to require workers to join unions

9. Union Negotiating Methods
KEY CONCEPTS
Collective bargaining—negotiation process of businesses and organized workers
establishes wages and working conditions
Unions can get better deal for workers than individual employees
unionized companies tend to pay higher wages

10. Union Negotiating Methods
Collective Bargaining
In past bargained for wages, conditions, benefits; today to stop cuts
Few strikes now since managers will replace workers, close plants
If agreement cannot be reached, mediator may be brought in
Next step: binding arbitration—decision made by impartial third party
Government may issue injunction forcing public safety workers back

11. Managing Change in Your Work Life
Background
The United States economy has shifted from manufacturing to service and knowledge-based industries.
Companies establish offices around the globe. Outsourcing and insourcing of jobs result in both benefits and challenges.
What’s the Issue?
How will you respond to the changing dynamics of the work environment?

12. Thinking Economically
What skills are you likely to need in order to manage change successfully in your work life? Use examples from the documents.
In documents A and B, are the types of change similar or different? Are their effects on workers positive or negative? Explain.
Compare the opportunities afforded by change in documents A and C. How are they similar? How are they different?

13. Question
In 1981, a group of air traffic controllers, employees of the Federal Aviation Administration, went on strike. They wanted to reduce their workweek to 32 hours instead of the usual 40 because of the high stress of their jobs. President Ronald Reagan broke the strike and disbanded the union of air traffic controllers, claiming that they were striking illegally. About 100 workers were arrested, and all of them were banned for life from jobs in air traffic control. Did Reagan do the right thing by firing the striking workers? Explain your answer