History of American Labor Unions

Applying the idea of strength through numbers, American labor unions have brought about many workplace changes throughout their history.

Labor unions have a long and rich history in the United States. Some of the milestone achievements of U.S. labor unions include the right to a safe and non-discriminatory work environment, wage and hour standards, and collective bargaining power. Union membership has declined during the late 20th century and first decade of the 21st century, because of intensified global competition and a shift of U.S. workers from the manufacturing to the service industries. As a result, some argue that unions are no longer relevant or necessary.

19th-Century Origins

While its roots go as far back as the 1820s, the U.S. labor movement remained largely unorganized until Samuel Gompers was elected president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1886. The late 19th century saw strikes among unions across several industries, including mine workers, iron and steel workers, and carpenters. Although unions often met violent opposition from employers, their bargaining power increased under the leadership of Gompers, who increased the union's membership into a powerful political force.

Progressive Era

After several decades of opposition to unions from government and business, in the first year of the 20th century the U.S. Industrial Commission declared trade unions good for democracy. Working women joined the labor movement in 1903 with the Women's Trade Union League. In 1909, 20,000 female shirtwaist makers in New York picketed to protest working conditions. In 1912, Congress established the Department of Labor.

Depression Era

With the Great Depression under way in the 1930's, there was a surge in labor strikes. In 1935, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was established as part of the AFL, but it soon broke from the AFL and became an independent federation. Unions found a strong ally in President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who signed the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, allowing American workers to organize and bargain collectively. Businesses strongly opposed this law and campaigned to amend it.

Post-War and Civil Rights Era

In 1947, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which revoked some of the union bargaining rights granted under the National Labor Relations Act. The AFL and CIO merged in 1955. Controversy plagued the labor movement for much of the 1950s. The AFL-CIO suspended the Teamsters union in 1957 over alleged union President Jimmy Hoffa alleged ties to organized crime. As a result, the AFL-CIO lost 1.5 million members and $900,000 in annual dues. Nevertheless, throughout the 1960s, the AFL-CIO helped bring about significant changes in U.S. labor laws, including outlawing wage discrimination based on gender and institutional racism.

Modern Era

The 1970s saw passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act to better protect workers' health and safety. However, union membership began to decline in the late 1970s, and has generally continued to shrink ever since, as foreign competition and international trade agreements have resulted in more imports and fewer U.S. manufacturing jobs.

21st Century

Debate continues about the necessity and value of labor unions. Manufacturing News reported an Ohio State University study that concluded that unions represented a negative economic force by making U.S. labor less competitive, costing the U.S. economy $50 trillion over 60 years. On the other hand, a World Bank review presented a more favorable review of 1,000 studies on the impact of collective bargaining and unions, concluding that under the right conditions, high unionization rates can lead to lower unemployment, higher productivity and faster adjustment to economic events.

References

• AFL-CIO: Labor History Timeline
• AFL-CIO: About Us
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Union Members Summary
• Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History: Labor Unionism

Resources

• HighBeam Business: Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations