Unions and Labor in America What is a “union”? What role do unions play in the American economic...
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Unions and Labor in America
What is a “union”?
What role do unions play in the American economic system?
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What is a “union”?
• A union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals– Goals = workplace issues
• Unions have existed since the Middle Ages– Popularity grew during the
Industrial Revolution
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Middle Ages Guilds
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Colonial Trade Unions
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Modern Labor Unions
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What issues do union typically fight for?
• Issues important to their members:– Better working conditions– Better pay / benefits– “Workplace justice”– Workplace rules– Hiring, firing, and
promotion issues
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Overcrowded and Pollution
Overcrowded and Pollution
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Worker Housing in Manchester
Worker Housing in Manchester
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Factory Workers at Home
Factory Workers at Home
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Child Workers in the Industrial Revolution
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Why do workers join unions?
• Variety of reasons why:– Security– Respect– Unhappy with
management– “peer pressure”– Better communication
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How does one start a union?
• In a perfect world:– Majority of workers
would vote– Create a constitution– Management would
acknowledge existence
• In reality:– Companies try to
discourage unions• WHY?
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How does one start a union?
• Five (5) steps:– Create an organizing
committee – Create an issues program– Educate your co-workers /
collect signatures– Hold a union vote– Negotiate a union contract
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What challenges do workers face in trying to start a union?
• Non-unionized companies tend to try and discourage unionization– Higher costs– Less freedom
• Will actively try to discourage workers from joining
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How does the US government protect people’s right to unionize?
• Wagner Act (1935)– FDR / The New Deal
• Companies CANNOT:– Discourage unions from
forming– Influence union leaders /
members– Intimidate union members– Refuse to bargain in “good
faith”
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Sen. Robert F Wagner I
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How do unions negotiate with companies?
• Unions use a method called “collective bargaining”– Union representatives
negotiate on behalf of their members
• Unions typically appoint a “bargaining team”
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Is collective-bargaining a good thing?
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2011 Wisconsin Labor Battle
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What happens if the union and the company cannot reach an agreement?
• Three (3) opinions:
– “Fact Finding”• Both sides submit their proposals to a third party• The third party creates a contract
– “Arbitration”• Government representative acts as a mediator /
negotiates deal
– “General strike”• Union members vote on a strike proposal /
refuse to work
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PA’s Ongoing Labor Debate
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What is a “strike”?
• A strike is a complete work stoppage by union members
• Includes:– Protests / Picketing– Limited negotiations
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What are “strikebreakers”?
• Strikebreakers are workers who refuse to strike or are temporary replacements– Also known as “scabs”
or “blacklegs”
• Working during a strike is called “crossing the picket line”
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Labor Strikebreaking (1800’s)
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Modern Strikebreakers
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What are the positives / negative aspects of a labor unions?
• Positive:– “United voice”– Legal protection– Feeling of
brotherhood– Social help
• Negative:– Differing views– Poor management– Corruption– Intimidation /
violence