1. Labor Unions
Linkage Institutions

2. How do workers organize to influence policy?
Linkage Institutions
Interest Groups
How do workers organize to influence policy?

3. Labor Unions
Interest Groups

4. Representatives of workers in many industries
Labor Unions
What are they?
Labor Unions
Representatives of workers in many industries
They advocate for policies that ensure better working conditions and wages
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Unions exist at the individual workplace level ( at one specific business )
Large nationwide unions lobby and electioneer at the national level to influence laws that impact workers

5. Labor Unions What are they? Collective Bargaining
A process of negotiation between employers and employees
The union and management reach collective agreements that set wage scales, hours, etc.
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The collective bargaining agreement functions as a contract between the workers and the company
All new hires work under the rules of the CBA until a new CBA is negotiated.

6. Labor History
Interest Groups

7. Labor Unions 1800s Industrialization
Labor Unions begin to spread in industrial cities in response to economic & social changes of industrialization
The Supreme Court ruled that unions were legal in 1840s.
American Federation of Labor formed in 1886 and became a major source of support for Democrats.
Railroad growth helped spread unions nationwide in late 1800s.

8. The strike crippled the entire railway system
Labor Unions
1800s
Pullman Strike
In 1894, in response to wage cuts, workers in the American Railway Union went on strike against the Pullman Co.
The strike crippled the entire railway system
President Cleveland sent the army in to break up the strike because it interfered with the delivery of US mail.
13 strikers were killed by the army, 57 wounded & the leader went to prison.

9. Labor Unions New Deal Wagner Act
Part of FDR’s New Deal – National Labor Relations Act of 1935
Guarantees the rights of workers to organize as unions and engage in collective bargaining.
The right to strike was also protected
Created the National Labor Relations Board to enforce this law (meaning they can make businesses bargain with unions)

10. Labor Unions Decline Taft Hartley Act Limited the rights of unions
(Truman vetoed it, but Congress overrode the veto)
Banned unions from donating to candidates (they have to form a PAC like other groups)
Prevented unions from calling strikes that threatened national security
Banned the “closed shop”

11. Labor Unions Decline 1970s & 1980s
US manufacturing began to decline compared to overseas competitiion
Companies began to move their manufacturing to the South where unions were weaker
Businesses began to respond to the threat of a strike by threatening to move the jobs away
The number of strikes declined by 97%
Many industries were deregulated despite union opposition

12. Labor Unions Decline Reagan
Was a former union president when he was an actor, and supported unions in his campaigning for presidency
In 1981, air traffic controllers went on strike – Reagan ordered them to return to work because of national security.
When they did not end the strike, Reagan fired all 13,000 air traffic controllers nationwide.
It took 10 years to fully re-staff
This set a precedent for union-management relations moving forward.

13. Labor Unions Today
Interest Groups

14. Labor Unions Today Membership
14.6 million workers are a part of unions
10.7% of all workers belong to a union
Workers are more likely to belong to a union if they work in the public sector than the private sector
Less than 7% of workers in the private sector belong to a union

15. Labor Unions Today Membership People in unions are older than average
Union members are disproportionately male.
More union members work in the Northeast and Midwest
Union workers earn 10-20% higher wages on average.

16. Labor Unions Today Umbrella Unions
Most unions are part of an umbrella organization: the AFL-CIO or the
Change to Win Federation
These organizations advocate for workers policies with the US Govt.
Both umbrella unions tend to support Democratic politicians more then Republicans
AFL-CIO workers earn 33% more than their non-union counterparts

17. Labor Unions Today Public Sector
Workers are more likely to be unionized if they work for the government.
City workers, teachers , policemen, and fire departments tend to be the most powerful unions today
31% of federal government workers and 35% of state government workers belong to public sector unions
They have fought for pension plans that are becoming financial burdens for these governments, leading conservative legislatures to attack their ability to collectively bargain.

18. Labor Union Policy
Interest Groups

19. Businesses are only allowed to hire members of the union.
Labor Unions
Union Shop
Closed Shop
Businesses are only allowed to hire members of the union.
This makes the union very strong because all potential employees have to be a part of the union
The union also has the power to force the employer to fire anyone who is kicked out of the union

20. Labor Unions Union Shop Union Shop
The employer can hire anyone, but that worker must join the union.
This makes the union very strong. All workers are a part of it.
They are better able to negotiate with management because all workers are involved
This also ensures the union won’t lose strength over time.

21. Labor Unions Right To Work Laws Right to Work Laws
These policies are passed by state legislatures, not businesses
Right to work law bans the union shop
No workers can be forced to join the union.
This makes the unions much weaker. They lose membership because workers can free - ride

22. Labor Unions Right To Work Laws Right to Work Laws
Are more likely to be passed by Republican controlled legislatures.
Republicans rely heavily on business owners as voters and supporters
Unions tend to support Democrats

23. Labor Unions Right To Work Laws Public Sector Unions
Some conservative legislatures in states have passed laws limiting their public sector unions from collective bargaining.
People argue that these unions are too strong since they technically help to elect their own bosses.
Overly generous benefits to these unions are a drain on state budgets and therefore are unfair to tax payers

24. Labor Unions
Right To Work Laws
Right to Work Laws

25. Labor Unions
Right To Work Laws
Right to Work Laws

26. Bigly Ideas
Linkage Institutions

27. History Wrap Up Labor Unions Collective Bargaining
Policies Impacting Labor
Right to Work Laws
Focus on these things: