CHAPTER 8

Labor and Unions

SECTION 1: The U.S. Labor Force
SECTION 2: The Growth of Labor Unions
SECTION 3: Unions and Management

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 SECTION 1
The U.S. Labor Force

Objectives:
 What factors affect workers entering the
labor force?
 How has the U.S. labor force changed over
time?
 How does the U.S. government affect labor?

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 SECTION 1
The U.S. Labor Force
Factors affecting workers entering the
labor force:
 wages
 skills
 working conditions
 location
 intrinsic rewards
 market trends
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 SECTION 1
The U.S. Labor Force

Changes in the U.S. labor force:

 more capital-intensive
 more gender-balanced
 better educated

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 SECTION 1
The U.S. Labor Force
Ways the U.S. government affects
labor:
 passing antidiscrimination laws
 passing minimum-wage laws

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 SECTION 2
The U.S. Labor Force

Objectives:
 What is the history of the labor movement in
the United States?
 How are labor unions organized?
 What are the main challenges facing unions
today?
 How have government attitudes toward
labor unions changed?
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 SECTION 2
The U.S. Labor Force
History of the
U.S. labor movement:
 mid- and late 1880s—formation of craft and
industrial unions, such as the Knights of
Labor, to battle poor working conditions,
low wages, and unfair length of work days
 1886— beginning of the modern period of
the labor movement and the organization of
the American Federation of Labor
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 SECTION 2
The U.S. Labor Force
History of the
U.S. labor movement: (continued)
 1900—Knights of Labor no longer a
significant force
 1920s—internal struggles within labor
unions and antiunion sentiment emerged
 1930s—organization of Congress of
Industrial Organizations to represent skilled
and unskilled workers
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 SECTION 2
The U.S. Labor Force

Organization of labor unions:

 local unions—made up of people working
for a particular company or in a particular
area
 national unions—composed of local unions
from around the country
 independent unions—unaffiliated with
national unions
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 SECTION 2
The U.S. Labor Force

Challenges facing unions:

 employer opposition
 changes in employment patterns
 negative public opinion

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 SECTION 2
The U.S. Labor Force
Changes in government attitudes
toward labor unions:
 1800s—favored business interests over labor
unions
 early 1900s—favored labor unions and
passed legislation protecting workers’ rights
 since 1940s—has favored management and
passed laws limiting labor union power

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 SECTION 3
Unions and Management

Objectives:
 What major issues are discussed in labor
contract negotiations?
 How do unions and management reach a
contract agreement?
 What negotiation tactics do unions and
management use?

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 SECTION 3
Unions and Management
Major issues discussed in labor
contract negotiations:
 wages and fringe benefits
 working conditions
 job security
 union security
 grievance procedures

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 SECTION 3
Unions and Management
Methods unions and management use
to reach a contract agreement:
 collective bargaining
 mediation
 arbitration

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 SECTION 3
Unions and Management

Negotiation tactics
 Unions:
 picketing
 boycotting
 coordinated campaigning
 Management:
 hiring replacement workers
 using lock-outs
 requesting injunctions
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 CHAPTER 8
Wrap-Up
1. Explain how supply and demand affect the labor
force.
2. How has the composition of the U.S. labor force
changed since the 1800s?
3. Why did workers in the 1800s and early 1900s
begin to organize?
4. Describe how government attitudes toward labor
unions have changed over time.

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 CHAPTER 8
Wrap-Up
5. What major issues generally are addressed during
labor-contract negotiations?
6. What tactics might a labor union use during
contract negotiations? What tactics might
management use?

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