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The Labor Movement

The Labor Movement. The Great Depression. During the years of the Great Depression, American workers organized and pushed for better working conditions.

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The Labor Movement

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  1. The Labor Movement

  2. The Great Depression During the years of the Great Depression, American workers organized and pushed for better working conditions. Management, however, strongly resisted the labor unions; employers would hire strong “thugs” to intimidate workers; they refused to negotiate with the union representatives; workers would walk off the job and strike.

  3. Labor Local police and the National Guard troops would get involved and sided with management. Strikes took place throughout the nation Violence increased in the steel, automobile and textile industries.

  4. Wagner Act Workers urged the Roosevelt administration to enact the National Labor Relations (Wagner) Act in 1935. This act gave workers the right to unionize and bargain collectively. It outlawed “unfair labor practices.” Prohibited management from sponsoring company unions. Required employer to bargain with elected union officials to set wages, hours and working conditions.

  5. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) The Wagner Act created a system for enforcement of collective bargaining agreements. NLRB played a key part in settling labor disputes between management and the unions. With Federal protection on the side of the unions, union membership increased. In the 1938, union membership surpassed 7 million.

  6. Wagner Act The Wagner Act further angered business leaders from the New Deal. Management was fearful of employees to unionizing. The business sponsored Liberty League contended that the Supreme Court would soon declare it unconstitutional.

  7. Labor Movement The labor movement created a rapid growth in military presence and increased military power. The movement caused a division between “craft” and “industrial” unions. Craft unions represented skilled, trade union workers. Industrial unions represents all the workers, skilled and unskilled in any industry. Craft unions won the majority of the American Federation of Labor which offered little support for industrial funding.

  8. Labor and the Automotive Industry The most decisive labor conflict of the decade was when the United Auto Workers Union demanded recognition from General Motors. December 30, 1936 workers at Fisher Body plant in Michigan felt they were being mistreated and wanted to bargain in good faith but management refused so they decided to strike – workers marched into one of the factories and refused to leave. General Motors agreed to recognize the union; United Auto Workers triumphed.

  9. The Struggle Workers suffered a lot in the beginning of the labor movement's; many wont forget when the police attacked a group of workers and their families at the Republic Steel Plant in Chicago. 10 men were killed 7 shot 30 wounded Many Americans were fed up with the strike and violence No sympathy

  10. Gradually, the violence that sparked during the years of the depression was just what the National Labor Relations Board needed to prove an effective method to diffuse conflicts was desperately needed.Unionization and workers were treated fairly and their standards of living was met.

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