|
Similarities
- Government actually actively supporting workers rights during New Deal
- National Industry Recovery Act 1933 - NRA developed agreed codes of production, wages hours, right to join unions, collective bargain, blue eagle sign
- Wagner Act 1935 put in place collective bargaining structure, National Labour Relations Board to bargain on behalf of workers
- Expansion of union membership from 3.7 million 1933 to 9 million 1938
- However, did not equal wages for women, and AA workers didn't benefit that much, NRA declared unconstitutional 1935
- Similar union growth in Gilded Age when Knights of Labour was established, 700,000 members in 1886
- Gilded Age had similar racial divisions, with employers often exploiting AA workers to break strikes etc.
- Similar government support in WW1, established War Labour Board giving 8 hour days, union rights and collective bargaining for a no-strike policy - BUT not long term
- Union membership also increased from 2.7 million 1916 to 5 million 1920
- Welfare capitalism in 1920s saw improved conditions and benefits and reduced day, Ford also wouldn't accept union- continuity with New Deal
- WW2 saw continuity from the New Deal with a National War Labour Board to help with wage disputes, given rights to join unions (but a no-strike policy), growth in union membership from 8.9 million in 1940 to 14.8 million in 1945
- Similar presidential interference in social reform with Kennedy's New Frontier - aimed to increase minimum wage, Equal Pay Act 1963
- Johnson's Great Society similarly tackled poverty - created jobs, ended de jure discrimination with Civil Rights Act 1964, Economic Opportunity Act 1964, Medicaid and Medicare
|
Differences
- Difference from Gilded Age, where government attitudes controlled by big businesses and unions/ government help seen as unAmerican- lassiez faire attitudes
- Negative government attitudes to unions created at Haymarket Affair 1886
- Improved from attitudes during Homestead (1892) - use of federal agents and Pullman (1894) - use of court injunctions and 12,000 troops
- Welfare capitalism had lack of union rights, company unions could not strike/ negotiate wages, Yellow Dog Contracts prevent unions
- Red Scare in 1920s created anti-union sentiment, as did Great Depression, where people were lucky to have a job so didn't want to risk it, union membership down to 10% in 1933
- WW2 did see more presidential interference in prohibiting strikes, with presidents empowered to seize any plant where strikes interfered with the war effort
- Positive difference in Ford actually recognising the Auto Workers Union in 1941, and there being more opportunities for women and AAs
- Labour Management Relations Act 1947 restrained powers of trade unions
- Reagan returned governmental influence on union and labour rights to negative, favoured big business (decreased income taxes for the rich) and cut back on aid for the military
- PACTO strike 1981 - Reagan threatened the 13,000 people with an employment ban, caused decline in public support for unions and membership to drop to 12% by 1992
- Shift in balance of power in 1980s between employers and labour unions, non-union members had greater power, members of Labour Relations Board appointed by Reagan and therefore shared his views
- Strikes in 1990s localised, small scale and ineffective
|
|
Overall comparison
Workers and unions enjoyed period of government support, only showed slightly in periods before (e.g. WW1), it was quite long term, lasting until Reagan's presidency in which unskilled worker's right and union support saw a steep decline, which the same attitudes still existing today.
|
Comments
No comments have yet been made