•  
  •  
 

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

Advisor

Anita Blowers

College

Arts and Letters

Keywords

Labor Movements, Labor Wars, Blair Mountain, Workers’ Rights, Unionization, Labor History, Federal Suppression, Workplace Democracy, National Labor Union, Eight-Hour Day, Labor Protections, Income Inequality, Organized Labor, Collective Bargaining, Workplace Reform, Labor Policy, PRO Act, Labor Organizing, Employment Law, Industrial Relations

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The United States has been resistant to the various labor movements over its history. Workers had to combat their employers to secure improved working conditions and protections at the Battle of Blair Mountain. The Labor Wars, as the era was called, had a long history of private suppression efforts, and in some instances, having the federal government send forces to suppress workers’ ability to fight for their rights. Though the federal government and companies were notorious for their suppression of workers’ rights, the National Labor Union was established in 1866 and was successful in creating an 8-hour workday, as the union was a part of Theodore Roosevelt's campaign in 1912. As the Department of Treasury stated, “Union membership peaked in the 1950s at one-third of the workforce. At that time, despite pervasive discrimination, overall income inequality was close to its lowest level since the Great Depression and was continuing to fall.” This paper argues that there is a present benefit to unionization and democratization of the workplace for Americans, and that understanding labor history better informs policymakers.5 Currently, the most prominent reform is the PRO-Act, which seeks to expand the definitions of “employee” and “employer” whilst banning coercion against organizing labor.

Download

Share

COinS