U.S. Labor History-Rise Of Industrial Unionism
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RISE OF INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM
In 1935 the citizens of the U.S. were still struggling to put together loss of due effects of the depression, leaving people to questioning the ideas of the American dream. Where what was once the land of hope and optimism became the land of despair. The American people were questioning all the maxims on which they had based their lives – democracy, capitalism, individualism. The economy during the depression had been significantly damaged, thus in 1935 and through out the 1930s economics dominated political discussion and policy. Commissions were set up to regulate Wall Street, the banking industry and other business enterprises. The U.S. became a nation of high expectation of government, in terms of control, insurance and welfare. Although more than any thing the citizens of the U.S. wanted change, change from what had brought them so much misery not to many years ago.
John L. Lewis, labor leader in the AFL in the 1935, sensed this need for change, in a new form of unionism, industrial unionism. Just over 10 years earlier unionism had suffered its biggest defeat, with the success of government and employer “union-busting”. The AFL was static in its approach to organize labor, not following labor need and taking risk, focusing purely on organizing skilled workers. Yet a man would fight against this direction and start his own direction, this man was John L. Lewis. Lewis, who was a labor leader in the 1935, sensed this need for change, in a new form of unionism, industrial unionism. He felt organizing mass production workers was the new form of unionism, yet the president of the AFL, William Green felt otherwise. However Lewis conviction with his vision and attitude would not allow any impediment in accomplishing his goal. Therefore in October 1935, during the annual AFL convention Lewis realized the perfect time for change, and speaking to a confidant declaring “a union drive in the basic industries in the past would have resulted in complete failure. But now the time is ripe; and now the time to do things is here. Let us do them.” John L. Lewis noticed a variety of factors which made him conclude in the fall of 1935 that the time was “ripe”, these factor were the changing climates in the U.S. economically, politically, legally and socially.
The U.S. economy in the 1935s was in recovery from the Great Depression of 1929. Many people lost everything and were in the process of rebuilding, this included blue-collar workers, to investors, to large and small employers. Conversely the American people were optimistic and in the 1935 people were even more optimistic, because the economy was consistently improving and getting further out of depression each day. So in John Lewis perspective, when assessing the fall of 1935 as the “ripe” time for industrial unionism, companies cant afford to fight too hard or long with workers. Companies are striving and focusing all there efforts in improving fiscal position after the depression, thus labor disruption will be more costly then the actual concessions. Lewis knew that he would have more negotiation leverage if the companies were extremely scared of any labor disruption. Principally the industry that primarily benefits from the economical improvements was the manufacturing sector, such as large companies like U.S. steel which hasnt made a profit for years. John Lewis was looking to unionize the workers in the manufacturing sector, making the companies optimism and reliance on profit making his means to threaten the companies to listen and make concessions in order to organize workers and increase the conditions for workers.
After the depression any the economy was the focus of the U.S. people and they were not going to have any interference with the economies development and growth. Unions were perceived as an economical interference and if allowed to progress they would impede on the American economic frame work of capitalism. John L. Lewis argued that unions had no intention of interfering with the economy and that unions were politically focused, not economically focused. That unions fought for fair working conditions, not more money and power. Thus unions relied heavily on the political climate in order to achieve their goals. The political climate in the 1935 was more conducive to labor and union change than any other time in U.S. history. There was a fundamental belief between the two governmental parties when in came to labor in the early 20th century; conservatives were anti-labor, in terms of giving workers any power or control when it came to working conditions. Conservatives felt there was a naturally disagreement between workers and employers, because the two sides had opposite goals and if given power the principles of U.S., capitalism, would be jeopardized. While the liberals (Democrats) believe workers should have some sort of power and control over their working conditions and unions express fairness, not radicalism. They also have contrary believe with the conservative, when it comes to unions and how it relates to the principle of the U.S., labor unions were just an extension of democracy and a free society. Accordingly in 1934 when the most liberal pro-labor congress in history of the United States and the democrats take control of the house and senate workers in the U.S. were bound to be more appreciated by the government. John L. Lewis witnessing this change in politics considers this another key factor in concluding that the time is “ripe” for industrial unionism. The government will now be more favorable to support labors ambitions. Although Conservative president Franklin D. Roosevelt was still in power, the congress had changed and in most states the majority of senators were liberal democrats. Thus it is crucial Roosevelt does not express to much conviction in his displeasure for unionism, because elections were soon and he could run the risk of disappointing citizens. In limiting the power of President Roosevelt, Lewis now eliminated much of a problem which held down the expansion of unionism. Also in 1935 the government was very cautious in the amount of force it was willing to us to suppress the expression of workers through strikes.