Organized Labor DBQ Starting in the 1870’s, there were large movements pushing to better the lives of the working and labor classes. Various unions were formed throughout the country, each with their own agendas, while progressives put pressures on the government for reforms. With corporations working against them, however, organized labor was not very successful in improving workers’ lives, a result of the awful plight of the workers, the power of the corporation, and the futility of strikes. The workers’ plight in the late 19th century was bleak.
The Strike was a national railroad strike. The main conflict began when nearly 4,000 factory employees of the Pullman Company began a wildcat strikes in response to a reduction in wages. Most factory workers lived in the company town. The town was mostly owned by Pullman himself. When Pullman laid off workers and lowered wages, he did not reduce rents, and this caused workers called for a strike.
The National Labor Relations Act allows employees to form a union or join a preexisting union. The same act prevents employers from standing in the way of workers attempting to unionize. Many organizations frown on unionization, but regardless of their opinion, they cannot interfere with employment rights. Employers are violating the law if they threaten employee 's jobs, question union activities, or eliminate benefits for employees by unionization. They also cannot offer benefits or perks to employees for refusing to unionize, as this could be seen as illegal persuasion (Employer/Union Rights, n.d.).
Unions have been around for a long time. The first union was established in 1866 in the U.S. with the foundation of the National Labor Union or the NLU. The National Labor Union was created to persuade Congress to change laws. The NLU was against holding strikes and instead relied on political action to reach its goals. The NLU, made up of farmers, workers, and reformers, excluding African Americans and women, firstly wanted Congress to limit the work days to just eight hours, and it was able to make this change, but after this none of its other suggestions made it through.
During the Gilded Age (1870-1900), workers faced numerous problems in which they attempted to fix through organizing into labor unions. But, these unions failed. Their overall goals were to have better wages and working conditions, but a shorter work day in which they did not achieve. (Document A1) The government was corrupted and controlled by big business, which caused a lack of good interpretation, regulation, and passing of progressive legislations.
The 1970 U.S Postal strike was an illegal nationwide strike that started out in New York City and spread all through the east and west of the United States. During this time period one of the biggest multi-million dollar contract for the United States postal service was set to expire. U.S Postal services workers were in need of higher wages and better working conditions, they saw this as an opportunity to work with congress to try and get these issues resolve. Unfortunately congress would come to a congressional decision and would only raise wages by four percent for the United States postal service workers. The news that congress would raise wages by four percent , would make the workers upset due to the conditions they work through and having
The riot resulted in producing an obstacle for union membership and union authority still felt in several union groups today. Prior to the Haymarket Riot, it was known that factory work was hard. Employees were exposed to dangerous conditions, low wages, and prolonged hours; therefore, in an effect to improve working conditions unions were formed. Companies opposed union so in a attempt to reduce an individual for join on they would add suspected union members on a lists, which barred them from employment. Companies were also known for disregarding laws that the government put in place to protect workers’ rights and in some cases the government historically sided with the companies during strikes giving companies a sense of power.
The way that the Union has affected my life is by giving my father improved and safe working conditions, improving the hours they work, and giving them higher wages than non-union workers. With my dad being a part of the Union he is able to provide our family with our health insurance that is needed for our family. They also give my dad a safe place to go to work so he can come home to us after work every night. One other thing that helps me and affects me is the wages he gets from the Union without these wages we would not be able to survive or function in society. This is the most important thing that I am most thankful for the Union is that they give my father the wages that are needed to provide for our family.
Collective Bargaining also had benefits for workers that were part of the union such as; raised wages for low-wage workers, left middle-wage workers, and higher-wage workers the same to close wage gaps. Collective Bargaining is used a lot more in present day, because the terms have changed for the better and give tons of supports for the unemployed
Does the Law Preclude a Future for U.S. Unions? - Article Critique An article critique of Hurd, R. W. (2013). Moving beyond the critical synthesis: Does the law preclude a future for US unions? Labor History, 54(2), 193-200.
Strikes are only taking people out of the work force for however long they go on. Without work people aren't usually able to support their family's. In some cases people can get by for a little bit wthout a change in their lives, but after a certain amount of time funds run out without a steady supply of income. In The Grapes of Wrath we saw how the migrant workers lives changed dramatically when they went on strike. Many if not all of the strikers family's couldn't afford the necessities for survival, and what for just to prove a point.
My sister, Kayla, writes historical fiction and is particularly interested in union history, so she has done extensive research on how unions have helped laborers in the past. Laborers who have benefited from unions range from miners in the Upper Peninsula to women textile factory workers in New York. These diverse workers originally went on strike for union recognition because without it, the companies wouldn’t have to hold to their agreements to shorter workdays, safer working conditions, injury compensation, and not firing workers for discriminatory reasons. Without the union, companies would make promises to their striking workers, but the poor working conditions would quickly resume as soon as the workers ended the
The topic of Labor Unions has been the focus of many political debates in recent years, with these discussions having people advocate for and against the unions. Labor Unions are an organization that represent a collective group of employees to protect and further theirs rights and interests. Labor Unions were first introduced in the eighteenth century with increasing numbers around the United States and the world, but unfortunately during the past decade these numbers have drastically decreased, resulting in less education and achievement of solidarity among employees. Solidarity is the unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest. Workers in the United States would benefit more through labor
Issue: To pay or not to pay union dues? Labor unions charge an agency fee for the services they provide, such as collective bargaining, contract enforcement, and representation at disciplinary and grievance hearings. While twenty-three (23) states believe that employees have to pay unions fees, the other twenty-seven (27) believe that those fees should not have to be a requirement for employment. For anything to function cohesively, all parts must be on the same page and in support of one another. But is collecting union dues wrong?
Trade union membership worldwide has been decline due to structural factors that is smaller public sector, smaller manufacturing sector and fewer large firms. The labor market has become more volatile, with workers mobility, part time work, and lastly flexible work arrangements. Moreover, enlightened managements and mobility of capital as well as diversity of work force and workplace have reduced benefits of joining trade unions, impaired trade unions bargaining power and increased the cost of organizing. These developments have adversely affect trade union worldwide. This essay is based on the decline in trade union membership and the advantages and disadvantages of trade unions.
