Size and Power

• The KOL was founded in 1869 and reached a membership of 700,000 by 1886.
• The KOL conducted a successful strike against Wabash railroad in 1885 causing an increase in membership, but lost influence following the Haymarket affair, with membership falling to 100,000 by 1890.
• The Industrial Workers of the World was established in 1905, but militancy and violence meant it was disliked by employers. Attracted 100,000 members by 1923, but then went into decline.
• The Homestead Strike virtually bankrupted the AAISTW, causing a decline in membership from 24,000 in 1891 to 6300 by 1909.
• By the outbreak of WW1, union membership had grown to more than 2 million.
• The development of welfare capitalism in the 20s was usually in return for no-strike agreements and abandoning right to negotiate wages. Employers feared workers would take advantage of low unemployment and demand more money.
• In the 20s, some industries set up company unions and workers were sometimes forced to sign yellow-dog contracts.
• Yellow-dog contracts where contracts signed by workers agreeing not to join a union.
• Post WW1, many employers still refused to recognise unions, such as Henry Ford who refused to recognise any union for collective bargaining until 1941.
• Philip Randolph was appointed leader of the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters.
• Although nearly half of porters had joined the BSCP, they still hadn’t gained recognition by 1928.
• The BSCP defeated the company union in elections to decide who should represent workers and finally gained recognition in 1935. Within a year the union had enrolled 51% of all porters.
• The Great Depression resulted in a period of high unemployment. Employers took tough action against strikers, often calling in police or strike breakers. Union membership fell due to inability to strike.
• A sit-in strike in 1936 resulted in the recognition of the United Automobile Worker’s Union, then the Steel Workers Organizing Committee was recognised by US Steel in 1937.
• Membership increased during WW2 from 9 million in 1938 to nearly 15 million by the end of the war.
• Post WW2 economic changes - growth in white collar and decline in blue collar meant fewer workers joining unions.
• Membership fell from 1945 to 1950 as many new jobs were in government posts with no-strike agreements.
• 50s - many workers better off, with paid holidays, healthcare, pensions and pay rises linked to cost of living. Less interested in union activity.
• AFL and CIO merged in 1955. Brought together 85% union members at 16 million.
• Membership increased from 14.2 million in 1950 to 17.3 million in 1965.
• Number of striking workers decreased from 3 million in 1950 to 1.5 million in 1965.
• In the early 70s, the UFW organised strikes and boycotts, including the Salad Bowl strike, the largest farmworker strike in US history.
• The UFW eventually declined in the 70s.
• In 1970, unions members were 27.3% at 19.3 million. By 1990, union members were 16.1% of the population at 16.7 million.
• In 1970, there were 381 strikes involving 2.5 million workers. By 1990, there were 44 strikes involving 185 thousand.
• 80s and early 90s:

  • divisions - others unwilling to support PATCO , whom they perceived as well paid
  • decline in size of factories and businesses = harder to organise workers and limited recruitment
  • growth in welfare packages = little to gain from union membership
  • increasing number of female and white collar workers = less interested in joining unions
• Number of industrial workers increased from 885,000 to 3.2 million from 1860 to 1900.
• Economic growth in the Gilded Age increased demand for unions and resulted in the formation of the KOL in 1869, the AFL in 1886 and the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905.
• Membership grew from 500,000 in 1900 to 2.5 million in 1915 and 5 million by 1920.
• The growth of heavy industry in the Gilded Age created large numbers of unskilled workers who wanted representation, growing unions.
• Increasing prosperity in the 50s made many workers less likely to support unions and risk their gains through strikes.
• In the 1970s, those in high-tech and skill-based industries had significant wage rises and therefore had less concern for workers’ organisations.
• High unemployment during the Great Depression made workers vulnerable and just grateful to have a job.
• Increase in white collar industries in 50s, especially service industries and government sector. Some workers forced to sign non-union agreements.
• Growing number of female workers post WW2 - often not interested or discouraged from joining male-dominated unions.
• During WW1, membership rose from 2.7 million to 5 million, and during WW2 from 8.9 million to 14.8 million.
• During WW1, deals wages rose by 20%, and in WW2, by 70%.
• During the WWs, the NWLB was supportive of unions, but the president had the power to take control of factories where strike action threatened the war effort.
• Employers sought to regain control post-war - as a result, there were 4 million workers involved in industrial action in 1919 and over 4.5 million in 1946.
• During the Pullman dispute of the 20s and 30s, the company sacked union leaders, used spies and assaulted union organisers.