The Erosion Of Union Representation In The Post-Civil War

Xavier Gutierrez Professor R. Trichur Anthropology 101 17 May 2024 The Erosion of Union Representation In the post-Civil War era, labor unions arose in popularity intending to maintain and benefit labor practices. Throughout this moment in history, many corporations adopted anti-union tactics and sought legislative change, leading to a decline in union ability for labor representation. Deborah Fink shares how corporations have taken these tactics leading to the decline of labor unions within “Cutting into the Meatpacking Line.” At the same time, Vijay Prashad explores the concepts of polyculturalism within “Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting” offering a solution for union support and promoting labor equality. While there are many factors that play into the erosion of union representation, Fink explores the history of how it has …show more content…
Globalization also played a large factor in the erosion of union representation. The meatpacking industry is one that followed other industries by searching for cheaper labor practices by outsourcing labor to other countries. Cutting down on workers and jobs available made it harder for unions to form altogether. By taking globalization into effect, it forced domestic industries to lower costs coming at the expense of those employed, resulting in vast disparities in wages. In addition to the effects of globalization aiding the erosion of union representation, legal practices played a pivotal role in industries avoiding unionization throughout the country. During this time period, there were many right-to-work laws in place, allowing employees to opt out of joining a union and weakening the benefits of unionization. “Without the security of strong labor legislation at the state level, without the attendant advantage of social legitimacy, union power was fragile.” (Fink