That Union Thing
Taft-Hartley Legislation
History
During WWII, the government pressured workers not to strike even though businesses were making huge profits. After WWII labor tried to make up lost ground and held many successful strikes. As their power increased, labor began entering politics. Business became alarmed at the growth of labor’s power and, with support of President Truman, launched an anti-labor propaganda campaign. They proposed that labor was responsible for price increases, and that unions were corrupt, undemocratic, and dominated by communists.
In 1947, Truman called for anti-labor legislation: Taft-Hartley. Written by lobbyists and lawyers from business and chambers of commerce, it included most proposals put forth by business to restrict labor. It was designed to control labor and keep a grip on power, and it passed without confrontation because labor was divided by the anticommunist witch hunt.
Provisions
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No union officer can be a communist or the union will lose NLRB protection. The government promoted that by cleaning out “reds,” America would prosper and all would benefit.
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Gives freedom for antiunion campaigns.
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Prohibits secondary boycotts and jurisdictional campaigns.
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Bans the closed shop and lets states ban union shops.
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Includes the Right to Work provision, which was designed to prevent union penetration in the South.
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Allows unions to be sued for breach of contract.
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Requires 60 day notice to terminate or modify a contract.
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Allows the President to call an 8-day injunction against strikes in a national emergency.
Taft-Hartley has been used as a pretext for government intervention in labor union activities. For example, the government bailed out Chrysler in exchange for labor concessions, and President Reagan’s firing of PATCO workers forced concessionary bargaining.
Increasing legitimization of use to break strikes
A government:al “take concessions or take catastrophe (bankruptcy, etc.)” has been used to discipline unions, and the current War on Terrorism has been used to advance anti-labor agenda (with Homeland Security employees prohibited from joining unions). Labor’s power resides in labor itself, and Rank and File participation is needed to turn the tables in the favor of workers.
Union News From AFL-CIO Work in Progress
GETTING A HEAD START—Some 325 Pinellas County (Fla.) Head Start workers voted to join SEIU Local 1220FO for a voice at work. The unit includes teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, kitchen staff, family service workers, clerks and others. The workers plan to advocate better funding, consistent policies and fairness in their agency so they can provide the best quality educational services.
CLEAR VIOLATION CHARGED—The NLRB charged New York-based Clear Channel Communications radio network with an unfair labor practice for failing to bargain with the Television and Radio Artists. The NLRB-issued complaint charges that the company failed to bargain with the union before airing prerecorded programs that use out-of-state nonunion announcers instead of live announcers who are union members as required by the contract.
BEATING THE BUSHES--The first group of Florida state employees who lost civil service protection in 2001 under Gov. Jeb Bush have won back a voice at work. A majority of 2,730 workers in jobs ranging from administrative secretaries to vocational instructors, groundskeeping supervisors and master electricians voted to join Federation of Physicians and Dentists/AFSCME (FPD). The major issue in the campaign was workers’ loss of the ability to fight arbitrary dismissal when they were reclassified into a category not covered by civil service protections.
AT’S ENTERTAINMENT AND UNIONS—13 guilds and unions representing 75,000 workers in the live entertainment industry on Broadway recently formed The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG). COBUG will address issues of common interest to their members. The unions, which include the AFM, IATSE, and AEA, represent actors, musicians, writers, directors, designers, stagehands, ushers, and others. COBUG hopes that by working together they can strengthen their position and make their concerns heard by employers, public officials, the media, and the public.
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