Chapter 2

1. Chapter 2 Evolution of Labor-Management Relationships

2. Union goals classifications • Uplift unionism - social issues such as education • Revolutionary unionism - change fabric of society; overthrow capitalism; socialism • Business unionism - immediate employment interests; “bread and butter” • Predatory unionism - enhance union at expense of workers

3. Birth of unionism • Philadelphia Cordwainers (1794) • Shoemakers refused to work at various rates dependent on shoe (custom or stock) • Conspiracy Doctrine - Courts determined to be criminal act and fined each worker. • Commonwealth vs. Hunt - similar to conspiracy but different outcome; depends on objectives • Union boycotts under Sherman Antitrust • Slow going: courts, rural, unskilled immigrants

4. National Labor Union • National Labor Union (1866) Baltimore -Largely political reformist-took anyone -Issues: fed. dept. of labor, 8 hour workday, limits on immigration -Doomed by lack of leadership and inattention to worker problems

5. Knights of Labor • Knights of Labor (1869) Philadelphia -Org. city by city across crafts, mixing skilled and unskilled; centralized authority -Leaders were idealists who favored education and arbitration over strikes -Long range reform to change wage-price system and depersonalization of mass production -Failed due to belief that employers and employees have identical interests; promoted moral betterment instead of short term goals

6. Haymarket Riot (1886) • Chicago’s Haymarket Square • Advocated 8 hour work day to reduce unemployment • Bomb was thrown and violence erupted • Backlash against organized labor eliminated effectiveness of KOL

7. American Federation of Labor (1886) • Frustration with mixing skilled and unskilled like KOL • Not one big union…federation for services but retain separate identities • Emphasis on short-term tangible gains through collective bargaining like today’s business environment!

8. Homestead Strike (1892) • Confrontation at Carnegie Steel over wages • Employees were locked out and strikebreakers/Pinkertons were used…resulting in violence • Strengthened AFL by showing union’s concern; they supported workers financially

9. Pullman Strike (1894) • Protest over wage cuts by owner of Pullman train cars; owned all housing and food resources and refused to cut • Would not handle trains with Pullman cars • Erupted in violence and use of troops • American Railways Union NOT part of AFL and faded away due to negative public opinion

10. Industrial Workers of the World • Wanted to overthrow existing capitalistic system and abolish wage system…not achieve better wages • Formed in 1905 by socialist leaders who led much of earlier unrest • Failed due to inability to appeal to members’ interest and identity with sabotage and violence

11. World War I > Depression era • End of Industrial Workers of America - unions as political extremists (Bolsheviks) • American Plan - open shop; company unions-employee representation plans; yellow dog contracts • 1920’s - prosperity, less immigration, shift from ag/craft to industrial mass product. • 1930’s - depression and legislative initiative so unions not perceived as necessary

12. Congress of Industrial Organization (1935) • Broke away from AFL to organize employees of mass production industries (steel, auto, etc.) • Tremendous growth due to • strong leadership and appealing goals • effective use of sit-down strikes • favorable legislation (Wagner Act) • changes in employee attitudes-eg job security

13. World War II to present • Developments • Increased concern over collective bargaining, inc. job security and concession bargaining • Organization of white-collar and public employees • Merger of AFL-CIO (1955)

14. World War II to present (cont.) • No change • limited effectiveness in political efforts, such as stopping passage of NAFTA • difficulty in obtaining consensus among members • pursuit of short-range material goals instead of long-term reform