Today, however, the situation is different. American unions are in decline. Only about 12% of wage and salary workers today are unionized, compared to a peak of nearly 35% in the 1950's (when Republicans weren't anti-worker!). Even in historical bastions of unionization, the decline has been felt. Kentucky's last union coal mine closed last year, bringing an end to the era of unionization that defined Appalachia's coal industry. The overall decline of unions can be attributed to a few different causes. First, there has been a certain complacency in today's society. Some falsely assume that because labor unions have scored so many wins, their work is over. This mentality is especially damaging, as it fails to recognize the importance of continuous progress. Especially with the expansion of 'free' trade policies, globalization, and mechanization, it's more important than ever that workers organize. Another central reason for the decline of American labor comes in the form of legislative attacks on collective bargaining. States like Wisconsin have enacted 'Right to Work' laws, at the demand of right wing extremists funded by large corporations. These laws allow workers to mooch off the benefits of labor unions without having to pay a dime of dues. While right wingers spin this as productive for workers, their claims could not be farther from the truth. By limiting the amount of dues money flowing into unions, their political and social power is diminished. RTW effectively dismantles trade unions from the inside, destroying their ability to fight for workers. The impacts of RTW are vast. When this law is isolated as a factor, those in RTW states make 12% less every year than their colleagues in non-RTW states. Uninsured rates and poverty rates tend to be higher where these asinine laws have been enacted. There is even a direct impact in the workplace, with workplace death rates being over 50% higher in RTW states. While this law is perhaps the most egregious, other legislative attacks have decimated labor unions. The marked decline of collective bargaining in America is indicative of a worrying trend towards forgetting how critical unions have been and are to our way of life. In fact, studies find that the decline of labor has suppressed wages across the board. If unions were as strong as they were in the 1970's (not even their peak!), the average male worker would earn 5% more than he does today. Non-union workers without high school and a college degree would be earning 9% and 8% higher wages respectively. This study displays the importance of unionization, even today. As unions decline, America declines. Unionization is a major part of what makes America great.
Thus, every day, and especially today, we must remember the historical fights waged by American labor.
Never forget Samuel Gompers' fight to expand and consolidate unions.
Unionization spread across various industries in the early 1900's, despite various degrees of legal and corporate opposition. Central to the struggles of early unions was their lack of centralization. Different trades were all represented by different groups. Samuel Gompers brought together these various unions under the American Federation of Labor, harnessing the immense power of collective bargaining. His contributions transformed the nature of unionization by pooling together resources to fight for the common good.
Never forget Mother Jones' fight to organize mine workers.
Miners faced some of the most degrading conditions of any American workers. Forced to work in dangerous, cramped, and dirty conditions for unreasonable hours, many miners fell ill or were injured. However, there was no means for recourse before unionization. They constantly faces abuse from employers, from terrible living conditions in mine towns to abysmally low wages. Before women were even allowed to vote, Mother Jones toured mines, convincing workers to stand up and fight. She brought even doubters on board and was instrumental in gaining rights for miners. Sadly, this feminist's instrumental contributions to American labor are often ignored.
Never forget Lewis Hine's fight to expose the terrors of child labor.
During and just after the Industrial Revolution, demand for cheap labor combined with lack of regulation led to the flourishing of childhood labor. Children as young as 8 toiled under filthy, dangerous conditions for long hours. Countless children were mistreated, maimed, or killed on the job, and in some places up to 25% of factory workers were children. In 1904, a number of labor advocates founded the National Child Labor Committee, which gradually began to gain support. Their goal was to put an end to the abusive employment of kids. In 1908, photographer Lewis Hine began to work with the NCLC to showcase the plight of factory children. His images were widely circulated and brought attention to the scope of the child labor problem. Working with unions and the NCLC, Hines helped win reforms in congress to ban childhood labor.
Never forget coal miners' bloody fights for unionization.
Time and time again, efforts to unionize met serious resistance. Companies used to hire armed strikebreakers to disrupt bargaining efforts and end strikes. These scabs employed violent tactics, often killing workers or destroying their communities. Still, however, many who lost everything persevered. From the Battle of Blair Mountain (WV) in 1921, where over 50 strikers died, to the Brookside Dispute (KY) in 1974, where miners and their families faced violence, Appalachian workers fought bravely against corporate thuggery. Women, children, and community organizations all came together to support strikers, and in many cases, these struggles ended in success. In Brookside, miners gained the right to a union, which negotiated a better contract for them. The sacrifices of the miners who were shot at, killed, and beaten led to gains for all workers.
Never forget John L. Lewis' fight for pensions and social insurance.
Unions fought to create Social Security, a program that keeps over 20 million Americans out of poverty. Led by John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers, labor support helped pass the Social Security Act and overcome conservative challenges. None of us can even imagine a country without Social Security, a country where our elderly population falls into a sad cycle of poverty and misery.
Never forget United Auto Workers president Walter Reuther's fight for civil rights.
Unions have been at the forefront of racial integration. Southern Populist efforts to unionize in the late 1800's brought together poor Blacks and poor Whites to demand economic fairness. This led to Jim Crow laws and promotion of prejudice in order to divorce workers from their economic concerns and preempt a working class alliance. Union workers toiled side by side, no matter what their skin color. In Southern West Virginia, where union coal mining was strong, racial animosity was notably lower than elsewhere in the South. Because of organized labor, people were more concerned with the common good than racial conflicts. Much later, unions once again took the lead on civil rights issues. UAW president Walter Reuther addressed the March on Washington, proclaiming: "I share the view that the struggle for civil rights . . . is not the struggle of Negro Americans, but the struggle for every American to join in." His support, and that of other labor leaders, helped convince many White Americans of the importance of civil rights. Moreover, union resources were critical to the efforts of leaders like Martin Luther King, providing the movement with expanded political and economic power. In turn, this facilitated passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, two huge leaps towards equality.
Never forget the fight of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta for farm worker rights.
Before unionization, farm workers were subject to abhorrent working conditions. Picking fruits and vegetables all day under stifling heat, exposed to dangerous chemicals, and paid woefully inadequate wages, these workers lacked the most basic of rights. Threatened with discipline if they spoke up, farm workers were not able to fight for better rights. This all changed when Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta spoke up and began to organize a union for farm workers. They founded the NWFA and began to organize nationwide, starting strikes and successfully pushing for pro-worker legislation. Some of their most ambitious and successful operations were boycotts of non-union grapes and lettuce. These boycotts spread like wildfire and their economic implications were felt by producers, who gave in and substantially raised wages. Their work together revolutionized farm work and represented one of labor's most successful modern efforts.
If we truly seek to honor the legacy of these heroes, it is not enough to simply post "Happy Labor Day!" once the corn is cooked. We must stand up for American workers. It's not that hard! Here are a few steps we can all take to honor organized labor and its contributions to our country:
1. Vote for union-endorsed candidates.
2. Buy American-made, union-made products. There are apps to help identify union-friendly brands.
3. Become a dues-paying union member if you can. This is a direct way to contribute (and benefit!).
4. Spread awareness about the importance of unions.
5. Contact your local union rep and ask how you can help fight anti-union laws.
6. Call your elected officials and tell them to support card check legislation.
7. Talk to your friends about how they can help too.
So, as summer ends and we celebrate Labor Day, we must remember the storied history of unions. It's time for a revival. I'm ready for a new American labor movement. We need economic justice and fairness in this country, and the best way to bring that about is by fighting for organized labor and truly celebrating Labor Day.
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