Labor Union History
A labor union, by definition, is an organized association of workers, often in trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. The union, along with workplace management, are the two major entities of the labor relations process. That process involves the recognition of rights and responsibilities for both unions and management, the negotiation of the labor agreement between the two parties, and the administration of the negotiated labor agreement. The focal point of these relations are work rules, which facilitate the implementation of operational plans designed to accomplish an organization’s strategic goals. (Holley, p.6) This essay will explain the role that labor unions have had throughout the history of …show more content…
As of 2015, only 6.6 percent of employed workers are union members, less than a fifth of what it had been in 1945 and only half of what it was in 1985 (US Dept of Labor). Reasons for the decline vary, but the overall ineffectiveness of today’s unions is the most obvious. During good economic times, laborers don’t need unions to secure increases in wages & benefits because nearly everyone benefits from economic prosperity. Unions also struggle to keep a good public image. Many reports of corruption, mafia influence, embezzlement and bribery have occurred throughout the years and are difficult for the public to ignore. Employers often use these examples of greed to hinder union organizing …show more content…
Sixty years ago, unions effected the lives of nearly all Americans. Unions negotiated the wages and working conditions of a large portion of the American work force and even influenced the wages of many non-union workers as well. (Freeman) However, the current legal system in America has almost created a situation that is not conducive to cooperation between labor and management. Under U.S. labor law, a union that wins an election in a workplace must represent all the workers in the bargaining unit, even the ones who may have voted against the union. With the passing of the right-to-work laws in 25 states, workers can now refuse to join a union or pay union dues, even if they 're employed in a unionized workplace, which is a major blow to organized labor. Given this option, many workers choose to stop supporting the union because it makes no sense to pay for a service that it is obligated to provide
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933 Words | 4 PagesIn the midst of unemployment, unions gained strength. The unions could be seen as a positive impact on society because they showcased people standing up for their rights, however the truth was far from that. The strikes organized by union leaders were violent and unsafe. Protesters blocked trains, burned railcars and set buildings aflame. One man, General Nelson A. Miles sensed that the spreading unrest was, “‘more threatening and far-reaching than anything that had occurred before”’
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1873 Words | 8 PagesIn the Taft-Hartley Act, the US Congress demonstrated this by demolishing the rights of worker unions and strikes, giving the employers overwhelming control over the lives of employees. The National Labor Relations Act, or Wagner Act, passed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, previously protected the strikes and collective bargaining of employees and labor unions. However, with the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, labor unions were much weaker than before, and many even branded this act as the “slave-labor act.” “To pass the Taft-hartley Act that lifted many of the protections organized labor had enjoyed since the passage of the Wagner Act in the 1930s” (Fraser 754). With the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, many of the rights that protected the rights of workers to collectively bargain with their employers without any risk of losing their jobs and union strikes, were significantly weakened.
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1205 Words | 5 PagesConflicts between workers and employers are prevalent to this day. From fair wages, to better working conditions, and even to appropriate healthcare, there is always some form of questioning that needs to be addressed. Dating back to the late 1800’s the economy and labor market of the United States underwent massive changes which mainly revolved around people of all different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds becoming wage laborers. Due to these previously unheard-of changes, a conflict between the employees and employers began. Therefore, in order to resolve labor issues, through great difficulty workers created unions and protested against their employers.
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468 Words | 2 PagesBefore the structured labor society that we live in today, America was a very different working world; one plagued with injustice and grievances from workers across the job sectors. Two organizations, the Knights of Labor and later the American Federation of Labor acted as activists for reform and demanded better standards for working, living, and life for workers. Their strategies and success in achieving their goals were as different as the organizations themselves. Coming from a time of segregation and social divide, the Knights of Labor stood out as one of the most accepting labor unions of the age, which largely accounted for their membership to reach almost 800,000 members during its peak. All workers in a trade were included, regardless of their skill level.
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1143 Words | 5 PagesLabor and the US Government from 1890-1945 A key aspect of this nation’s history lies in the ever-shifting relationship between its government and its common man, most specifically its labor workers. This relationship plays a crucial role in the understanding of the changes that took place in America between 1890 and 1945. The changing relationship between government and labor workers in the United States between 1890 and 1945 demonstrates a period of unrest and a transitional period in which the focus shifted towards the working class as a result of the greed and corruption of 19th century business elite , as can be seen in the labor strikes requiring government intervention of the late 19th century, the progressives of the early 20th century
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615 Words | 3 Pages(Document A) These rich businessmen also hated the idea of unions, and even insulted them because they wanted to extend hours with less pay, the opposite of what the unions wanted. An example of one of these businessmen insulting the unions was Henry Clay Frick, president of Carnegie Steel in 1892 who said “...I will never recognize the union, never, never” (Document D) These problems still aren’t fully solved today, there are still wealthy business owners that blame the poor for being poor, and dislike labor
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240 Words | 1 PagesLabor union is the organization of workers who come together to achieve common goals. Unions came into picture in 18th century due to the imbalance in the rights of workers in regards to owners. Knights of Labor were the earliest large scale union in United States organized in 1869. They sought equal work for equal pay including blacks and women. This union peaked in 1880s but was soon replaced by American Federation of Labor.
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823 Words | 4 PagesThe Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor are just two examples of labor unions. Working in such poor conditions with little pay was a harsh reality. Labor unions provided at least some hope of change for workers. A worker in Hollitz explained that the reason he went on strike from George Pullman’s “model” company was because, “five reductions in wages, work, and in conditions of employment…” The railroad strike of 1877 grew violent, as workers demanded better wages.
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408 Words | 2 PagesThe organized labor of 1875-1900 was unsuccessful in proving the position of workers because of the future strikes, and the intrinsical feeling of preponderation of employers over employees and the lack of regime support. In 1877, railroad work across the country took part in a cyclopean strike that resulted in mass violence and very few reforms. An editorial, from the Incipient York Time verbalized: "the strike is ostensibly hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and splenetic demonstration of resentment by men too incognizant or too temerarious to understand their own interest" (Document B). In 1892, workers at the Homestead steel plant near Pittsburg ambulated out on strike and mass chaos the lives of at least two Pinkerton detectives and one civilian, among many other laborers death (Document G).
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