American Civil Rights - labour and unions.

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The National Industry Recovery Act.
1933. Gave workers the right to join unions and to take part in collective bargaining. The NIRA also created codes of practice for better wages, hours and union rights. Ford was one of the many employers that didn't agree to the codes.
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The Wagner Act.
1935. Established the National Labor Relations Board to oversee disputes and look into unfair labour practices. Gave the right to elect representatives, carry out collective bargaining, to join unions and banned the use of union spies.
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Fair Labor Standards Act.
1939. Introduced a minimum wage.
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Taft-Hartley Act.
1947. Put limits on the power of unions by preventing closed shops (where all workers in one workplace had to join one particular union), and regulated the employer-union relationship.
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National War Labor Board (WW1).
1918. Recognised unions and guaranteed the right to join a union in return for workers agreeing to a no-strike policy and to be cooperative.
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National War Labor Board (WW2).
Essentially took over industry from employers, also responsible for mediating labour disputes.
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The Equal Pay Act.
1963. Made gender based wage discrimination illegal.
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The Civil Rights Act.
1964. Helps minorities who have faced workplace discrimination, (specifically African and Hispanic Americans).
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The Economic Opportunity Act.
1964. Funding was given to train people so that their economic opportunities would increase.
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The Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
1968. Stopped employers discrimination against workers aged 40 to 60.
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Omnibus Indictment Act.
1894. Result of the Pullman Strike. Prevented workers' representatives or strikers from attempting to convince others to strike as well.
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The Occupational Health and Safety Act.
1970. Stricter hazard and hygiene standards for workplaces, which were set by the Department of Labor meaning employers had little influence on what they were.
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Sherman-Anti Trust Act.
1890. Curbs the power of monopolies (which reduced competition) that certain companies held.
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American Federation of Labor.
Founded 1886 by Samuel Gompers. Replaced the KOL as the most powerful union of the era. Began with a craft union focus, but gradually expanded.
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Congress of Industrial Organisations.
Initially the Committee-IO. Founded 1935 by 8 unions from the AFL, who stayed with the AFL until 1936 when they were expelled for suspected ties to communism.
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AFL-CIO.
The two unions merged in 1955, bringing 85%of union members under one organisation. Had roughly 16 million members.
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NFWA and AWOC.
National Farm Workers Association (founded in 1962 by Cesar Chavez), and the Agricultural Workers Organising Committee.
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Industrial Workers of the World.
Founded 1905, declined in 1920's. AKA 'Wobblies'. Militant and socialist, opposed the AFL's acceptance of capitalism. One member was executed for murder in 1915. Hated by employers. Main successes in mining and lumber in the Pacific Northwest.
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United Farm Workers/United Farm Workers Organising Committee.
Created in 1972 by the merger of the NFWA and AWOC. Led by Cesar Chavez, and was most active in the 60's and early 70's. It was non-violent. Declined in the late 70's due to rise of skilled workers (machinery) who didn't want to unionise.
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Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (and Maids).
Founded in 1925 by Philip Randolph. Aimed to improve the working conditions of maids and railroad car porters working for the Pullman Car Company. It was recognised in 1935 and negotiated a 240hr work month.
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Women's Trade Union League.
A women's union founded in 1903.
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Knights of Labour.
Founded 1869. Initially led by U. Smith Stevens, but saw greatest growth under T. Powderly. Successful in 1885 Wabash Railroad strike. 700,000 member say 1886, but 100,000 by 1890 due to the Haymarket Affair.
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PATCO Strike.
1981. Air traffic controllers want more pay for fewer hours. Strike may hurt economy and holidays, and went against a 1955 act against government workers striking, Reagan gave them 48hrs to return to work or their contracts would end.
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Pullman Strike.
1894. Injunction issued to prevent the interruption of mail, and 2000 troops sent by President Cleveland. They killed 4 workers
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Salad Bowl Strike.
1970. Led by the UFW, and was the biggest farm workers strike in US history. Gained higher wages for grape and lettuce workers.
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Haymarket Affair.
1886. A strike at McCormick Harvester Plant saw 4 strikers killed, a bomb at the protest against this killed 7 policemen (who then killed 4 more workers). Blamed on German immigrants, 5 of whom were executed.
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Homestead Strike.
1892. Carnegie Steel v. AAISW.Carnegie locked the union out of the plant and tried to use 'scab' labour. Henry Frick was killed (brought in to end strike). Ended with a fight between a private security firm and the workers.
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AAISW
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. Broken by the Haymarket affair, went from 24000 members in 1891 to 10000 in 1894, and then 6300 in 1909.
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Molly Maguires.
1873. Irish immigrant miners wanted better working conditions. The strike saw railway carriages derailed, a superintendent murdered and coal tips burned. Led to workers being reluctant to join unions, and further dislike from employers.
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General Motors Strike.
1936. On of the first sit-in strikes to be carried out. Led to the recognition of the United Automobile Workers' Union by the employer General motors
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Uriah Smith Stevens.
First leader of KOL, succeeded by Terence Powderly who was more successful in expanding the union until the Haymarket Affair of 1886.
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Cesar Chavez.
Founder of NFWA, leader of the UFW. Fasted for labour rights several times, e.g. 1968 for 25 days. Actions prompted the creation of the California Agricultural Relations Board to oversee collective bargaining. Controversy due to role in real estate.
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Philip Randolph.
Founder of BSCPM. President of the National Brotherhood of Workers of America in 1919. Became VP of the AFL-CIO in 1955. People need to not be poor to be free. Focused on rights for African American workers (they need to unionise).
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
1933 to 1945. Led the New Deal of the 1930's. Focused mainly on white male workers, but did give some help to minorities and women. Also President in WW2, which saw fairer treatment of workers than in WW1.
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President Grover Cleveland.
1885 to 1889, then 1893 to 1897. Sent 2000 federal troops to end the Haymarket affair alongside the Attorney General's injunction to stop the interference with the movement of mail.
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President Ronald Reagan.
1981 to 1989. Wanted to reduce the power unions had gained in the previous years of the period.
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President John F. Kennedy.
1961 to 1963. Made the promise that his 'New Frontier' would lead the US into space and progress in society. He intended to further civil rights but was shot in 1963. He did approve the Equal Pay Act though.
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President Lyndon B. Johnson.
1963 to 1969. His 'Great Society' saw some of the intentions of JFK and many new reforms enacted. Included the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965, and the Economic Opportunity Act.
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President Richard Nixon.
1969 to 1974 (resigned from office due to Watergate). Did not make as many improvements as his predecessors, but also did not undermine the achievements of the 1960's.
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President James 'Jimmy' Carter.
1977 to 1981. A minimum wage was established during his term but he would not reform the
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Turning points.
The Haymarket Affair (saw the fall of KOL, rise of AFL). The Wagner Act.
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WW1
Membership rose from 2.7 million in 1916 to 5 million in 1920. Employers were more conciliatory (e.g. an 8hr work day was introduced), and the government was more prone to intervene in the economy. 20% average pay rise.
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WW2
Once again the President was able to take over factories if a strike threatened the war effort. Membership rose from 8.9 million in 1940 to 14.8 million in 1945. Wages rose by 70% (due to increases in overtime pay).
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After WW1/WW2.
Employers attempted (and often succeeded) in reversing any progress and taking back control. Due to this the post war period was often filled with industrial unrest (4 million involved in 1919-20 and then 4.5 million in 1946-7). Short-lived gains.
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Unskilled Workers.
Not accepted into unions at the start of the period and no protection, changed in 1930's. Vast increase in numbers during the Gilded Age due to industrialisation. Usually get paid a lot less than skilled workers.
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African Americans.
Whites and European immigrants often refused to work with them after abolition. During strikes they were often the 'scab' labour employers used. Lower wages, little protection as most unions (except the AFL and BSCPM) rejected them.
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Women.
Less pay for the same job (consistently throughout period, though it got better). Faced discrimination in unions and sexual harassment in the workplace. The New Deal prioritised male workers over women. More working and more rights during the wars.
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Immigrants.
Willing to work for lower wages in worse conditions, also used as strikebreakers and were less interested in joining a union (usually).
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New Immigration.
Immigrants from southern and central Europe, as well as Asia begin to arrive in larger numbers from the 1880's to the 1920's. Drawn by religious and political freedom and economic opportunities.
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'Scab' labour.
Workers brought into a workplace to break a strike (replaced those on strike in, for example, a factory).
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Coppage v. Kansas.
1915. Allowed yellow-dog contracts.
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Yellow dog contracts.
Contracts that gave certain perks (like shorter work days) in return for workers agreeing not to strike.
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Adkins v. Children's Hospital.
1923. Ruled that the due process clause was violated by minimum wage laws.
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Ruling on the NIRA
1935. Ruled it was unconstitutional. The federal government had no right to impose codes on separate companies in different states (it violated states' rights).
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Ruling on the Wagner Act.
1937. Ruled it was constitutional.
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Laissez-faire
The belief that the government shouldn't get involved with the economy. Instead companies should be allowed to conduct their business without regulation. Followed in the 19th century in particular.
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Position in 1865.
Only skilled workers were in unions (craft unions) and unskilled workers and those in new industries were left unprotected. The rights they had depended on what workers could negotiate with their employer. Easily fired, little help for the injured.
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Welfare capitalism
The policy employers followed in the economic boom of the 20's to reduce unrest. Workers were offered benefits like health care or pensions in return for the use of company unions.
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When was the Great Depression and why did it occur?
1929 to 1939. It started due to the stock market crash (or wall street crash) in October 1929 which sent Wall street into a panic and decimated investors.
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Position in 1992.
The fall in membership following the PATCO strike continued, and both the public and the government became less sympathetic. There were fewer strikes, divisions in the movement still inhibited progress. Right to strike, unionise and c. bargaining.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The Wagner Act.

Back

1935. Established the National Labor Relations Board to oversee disputes and look into unfair labour practices. Gave the right to elect representatives, carry out collective bargaining, to join unions and banned the use of union spies.

Card 3

Front

Fair Labor Standards Act.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Taft-Hartley Act.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

National War Labor Board (WW1).

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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