When did labor unions really first start to form in U.S.
- with railroads
- european workers immigrating
- socialist views
In the 1800s, how did employers fight worker’s union efforts?
- said worker’s unions were efforts to monopolize
- sherman anti-trust
- criminal charges against union members
___ became president of the American Federation of Labor (AFA) that moved their views away from ___ to become more about wages, equal pay, worker’s rights
Samuel Gophers
Socialism –> equal pay
Yellow Dog Contracts
- between employee and employer
- employee agrees not to join worker union
- in return for job
How did the Great Depress affect workers unions?
- FDR’s New Deal
- people see need for worker’s unions
- passes Norris-La Guardia Act
Norris-La Guardia Act?
- outlaws Yellow Dog Contracts
- made difficult for employers to prevent unions
- made difficult for emplyers to get injunction to send employees back to work
- did not specifically give employee right to unionize
National Labor Relations Act?
Also called Wagner Act of 1935
- specifically legalizes unions
- encouraged Collective Bargaining between employer and employee
- defines employees and employers
- prevents employer interference with organization of unions
- set up National Labor Relations Board (court for violations)
The National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act is also reffered to as the ___
Magna Carta
What kind of employees are excluded from the right to unionize under the NLRA?
- kids employed by parents
- state, local, federal (government people)
- supervisors
- railroad
- agriculture
- indepenant contractes
Since railroad workers are not covered under the NLRA, what covers them instead?
Railroad Labor Act
-also covers airlines
NLRB v. Washington Aluminum
- Washington ALuminum terminates contract with company
- termination of contract b/c of business activities
- workers had to be fired as result (they Sue)
-Supreme Court says Wahsington Aluminum Co. not guilty b/c it was just business
Election process of people on National Labor Relations Board?
- appointed by President
- confirmed by Senate
If you appeal your case with the National Labor Relations Board? Where does your case go?
Federal District Court of Appeals
Good Faith Collective Bargaining?
- required by NLRA
- between employee/employer
- must be honest in negotiations
-DOES say they must reach Agreement
- sometimes employees Surface Level Bargain
- act like they are trying to reach agreement but aren’t really
How to get Union Representation
- 30% employees first sign authorization cards
- prompts election between employees
- secret election
- 50% +1 must vote for union representation to get represented
- if majority vote in favor, then ALL employees get Union Representation
Explain the Collective Bargaining process
-usually takes 3 years
- employees talk to supervisor and explain griviences
- 3rd party comes in to oversee
-employees agree not strike during Collective Bargaining process in exchange to tell supervisors their griviences
-employers can only fire people for
“just cause” reasons
-not b/c of union stuff
NLRB v. MacKay Radio and Telegraph?
- NFL referees go on strike
- replacement referees hired (scabs)
- scabs made bad calls in superbowl
- NFL agrees to comply with Union Demands
Taft-Hartley Act?
- cut back union power (made equal)
- states get to choose if they are “right-to-work states or non-right-to work states”
- employers could now express they don’t like unions (but can’t say they will fire you for joining one still)
Explain Right-to-Work
- when 50%+1 employees vote for union representation
- if you voted no, you don’t have to join the union
- BUT still will be represented and enjoy benefits from the Worker Union anyway (freerider problem)
*before Taft-Hartley and under Wagner, if you voted no and majority voted yes….. then you had to join and pay the union
Landrum-Griffin Act
- regulated financial affairs with Unions more STRONGLY
- regulated election of officers in union
- b/c unions were becoming corrupt
- were being funded by mafia
Recent Legislation on government workers right to Unionize
-has started to allow “non-essential” gov. workers to unionize
EX: librarians, custodians, etc.
