Organized Labor

Why Organized Labor? Collective Bargaining –Unions bargain for contracts on behalf of its members –Strength in numbers…they cant fire us all! –Except Air Traffic Controllers (1980s) and Baseball Umpires (1990s) »Many were fired for going on strike!! Protect Workers Rights –Wages –Working hours –Working conditions –Benefits

Why Organized Labor? If Collective Bargaining doesnt work –StrikeUnion members refuse to work until a fair contract is agreed upon –LockoutManagement refuses to allow union members into work until certain conditions are met

History of Organized Labor Labor unions of many kinds date back to the early 1800s –Very scattered, not influential, dissolved quickly I880s…a few major labor unions began to grow in numbers and power –Fighting between them increased 1886…major unions joined together to create the AFL (American Federation of Labor) –Considered to be the first real Labor Union in the U.S. –Consisted of only skilled members from various areas of the trades (steel workers, iron workers, etc)

History of Organized Labor Wagner Act of 1935 –A.K.A. - The National Labor Relations Act –Protected rights of workers to form unions –Established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)…created to investigate unfair business practices Other unions form –Several unions form during the 1930s Auto Workers, Electrical Workers, Rubber Workers The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) –Created in 1938 –Large union consisting of smaller unions mentioned above –Main rival of the AFL

Organized Labor Today AFL and CIO Merged in 1955 –Consists of 54 smaller unions –Several million members Teamsters Union –Started as a small part of the AFL-CIO –Was kicked out in 1957, rejoined in 1985, broke away again in 2005 –Strong ties to organized crime (Jimmy Hoffa) Declining in numbers today –Fewer manufacturing jobs Some unions still very strong –Teachers –Auto Workers –Carpenters –Electrical Workers