Trade Union - Government Action

Front 1

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

Back 1

Congress

1890

Prevented business owners from owning monopolies to encourage competition.

Made stopping trade illegal (workers and unions could no longer strike)

Front 2

In re Debs

Back 2

Supreme court

1895

A appeal against the use of injunctions such as those in the Pullman Strike (1894).

Court in favour of the government and upholds the Sherman Anti-Trust act (1890)

Front 3

Lochner vs New York

Back 3

Supreme Court

1905

Unconstitutional for a 10 hour working day as workers have the right to choose their own hours (no minimum wage)

~ early trade unions e.g. NLU and KOL. ~ Fair labour standards act (1938)~

Front 4

Loewe vs Lawler

Back 4

Supreme Court

1908

Hatters union is charged £3.9 million for striking against Loewe and company.

Supreme Court in favour of the business.

~ Taft Harley Act, Wagner Act~

Front 5

Adair case

Back 5

Supreme Court

1908

Upholds the use of yellow dog contracts.

~ Henry Ford/ Welfare capitalism, 1980's ~

Front 6

Actions of Wilson

Back 6

Recognises the potential political advantages of trade unions.

AFL (Gompers) gained Wilson's support in return for political votes.

A new department of Labour is created.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act is passed ~ Sherman Anti-Trust act~

~ Trade Union Aims, other democrat presidents - Kennedy, Johnson~

Front 7

Clayton Anti-Trust Act

Back 7

Congress

1914

Tried to strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) but limited the use of injunctions used on striking workers.

Front 8

Espionage Act

Back 8

Congress

1917

Illegal to criticise the war effort, 900 people were imprisoned under this act.

~ Wobblies were also greatly effected~

Front 9

WW1

Back 9

Federal government recognised trade unions and a National war labour board is created in return for a no strike policy. This board gave unions the access to collective bargaining. ~ Trade Union Aims~

Temporary change, union membership increased to 5 million by 1920. Anti-Union feeling after the war. ~ WWII~

Front 10

The New Deal

Back 10

1933

National Recovery Administration (NRA) was established to encourage competition ~ Sherman Anti-Trust Act~

Law gave unions the right to collective bargaining ~ Trade Union aims~

Companies in the NRA displayed a blue eagle.

Supreme Court not supportive shown through the Schecter Case (1935)

Front 11

Wagner Act

Back 11

1935

- Collective bargaining which workers can select their own representatives for. ~ WWI, Key aims~

-Closed shops permitted ~ Loewe vs Lawler,Taft Harley Act ~

- 5 man National labour relations board

- Membership increases to 9 million in 1938

Supreme Court declared it constitutional!

Front 12

Fair Labour Standards Act

Back 12

1938

- Minimum wage for industrial workers ~ Lochner vs New York ~

- Banned employment of under 16's ~NLU, KOL~

Front 13

WWII

Back 13

National war Labour Board (1941), membership was the main strength of trade unions 8.9 million by 1940 and 14.8 million by 1945.

1943 Smith Connally act ~Espionage Act~

Some Southern states passed 'right to work' laws banning closed shops (reversing the Wagner act) ~ Loewe vs Lawler, Wagner Act, Schecter case, Taft Harley Act ~

Front 14

Smith Connally Act

Back 14

President Roosevelt

1943

President could seize any plant that threatened war time productions. Acts against trade unions ~ Espionage Act~

Front 15

Truman

Back 15

Tries to overturn the Taft Harley Act (1947)

Unsuccessful due to republican dominance in both congress and the senate. (Republicans were historically against unions)

Front 16

Taft Harley Act

Back 16

Congress

1947

Closed shops illegal ~ Loewe vs Lawler 1908~

A 60 day cooling off period before strike action needed.

Front 17

Landrum Griffin Act

Back 17

Congress

1959

Bans secondary picketing ~ Homestead Strike 1892~

Front 18

Kennedy's 'New Frontier'

Back 18

1961-1963

Wasn't delivered due to opposition from republicans (Republicans won both congress and senate) and within the democrat party itself ~ Wilson, Johnson~
Equal pay act 1963

Tackled gender discrimination

Minimum wage rejected by congress ~ Carter 1977~

1962 an 'executive order' recognised the right of federal employees to collective bargaining ~ trade union aims, War~.

Significant for those who weren't protected under the Wagner act (1935).

Front 19

Johnson's 'Great society'

Back 19

Landslide victory (61.1%)

An attack on poverty and creating new jobs ~ New Deal~

Civil Rights Act 1964 - prohibiting discrimination ~ KOL, allowing women and African Americans~

Economic opportunities Act 1964 - Educate more people for them to get jobs.

Age discrimination Act 1968

Front 20

Nixon's actions

Back 20

1968

Positive discrimination - allows more black people opportunities

Health and safety Act 1970

Equal opportunities act 1972 - more power to enforce federal guidelines - still difficult for black people to get jobs and apprenticeships.

Front 21

Ship Building Case

Back 21

Supreme Court

1965

Upholds the right for employers to 'lock out' workers in order to put pressure on them during collective bargaining ~Homestead Strike 1892~

Front 22

President Carter

Back 22

1977 Established the hourly minimum wage at $2.65 ~Kennedy's minimum wage rejected~

Front 23

President Reagan

Back 23

Hostile republican government.

1981-1989

Responded harshly towards workers, particularly federal workers - Air Traffic controllers strike 1981.