Trade Unions: In-depth studies and debates

Wages rose by 60% (esp. for skilled workers)

Increase for transport and heavy industry (in demand as well)-overtook Britain

Bigger workforce (immigration)

Growth in craft-based unions

KOL saw rapid growth

• 20,000-700,000 from 1881-1886
• Included women and AAs

AFL est. 1886 sought to link all unions

• Some business' willing to work with unions

Unions had influence at a national and local level

Sickness clubs established but had limited compensation

• Increasing inequality and poverty as 2% of population had 30% of the wealth
• Wages of unskilled workers were 30% of skilled
• Increase in mechanisation -->declined demand for skilled workers 

• 'Contract system' meant that wokers laid off in quiet periods

• Little welfare rights 1889- 2000 rail workers killed in accidents
• Violent strikes damaged KOL reputation and membership declined

• Slump in economy at end of 1800s weakened position of workers
• Unemployment, job insecurity, wage reduction

• Divided workforce
• Fears that immigrants would steal jobs
• AAs not allowed to join

• Laissez-faire policy favoured big business'
• Court favoured employers, issued injunctions to end strikes 

• NIRA passed 1933
• set up NRA to improve employer-employee relations 

• National Labour Relations (Wagner Act) passed 1935
• workers could elect representatives
• National Labour Relations Board est.- could bargain for workers

• Union Membership grew
• 3.7m--> 9m 1933-1938

• Unions gained more recognition
• Steel Worker's Organizing Committe was regocnised by US Steel in 1937
• Sit in srike at GM--> United Automobile Worker's Union

• Minimum weekly wage established under Fair Labor Standards Act

• COI founded
• AAs coud join- brought some unity

• Many employers didn't recognise NIRA
• e.g. Henry Ford 

• NIRA declared unconstitutional in 1935

• Employers used strike breakers to intimidate workers
• There was continued violence against workers

• Unskilled workers did not benefit
• e.g. argicultural workers or lower-paid workers
• women didn't benefit as much as men as wage gap still upheld by NIRA and Fair Labor Standards Act

• Welfare reforms limited by conflicts between state and federal rights 

• Movement encouraged the abandonment of racist practices in unions

• It helped issues to due with the poverty prevalent amoung AA community

• Economic Opportunity Act was impacted by the movement

• Long term- influenced Nixon's policy of affirmative action

• Provided practical help for African Americans living in ghettos

• Kept ghettos on the political agenda

• Militancy lead to loss of support

• Although there was emphasis on economic emprovement, the campaign centered on black culture and opposed integration

• Concern for economic position was just one point in a ten-point programme

• Further divided CR movement with emphasis on black unity rather than whole unity

• The focus on poverty may have detracted from the advancement of labour rights