history chapter 3 lesson 4

What are some tactics companies used to break up unions? MULTIPLE

Companies used several tactics to break up unions. Companies required workers to take oaths or sign contracts promising not to join a union. They hired detectives to identify union organizers. Workers who tried to organize a union or strike were fired and placed on a blacklist - a list of "troublemakers" - so no company would hire them. Companies used lockouts; they locked workers out of the property and refused to pay them. If the union called a strike, employers would hire replacements, or strikebreakers.

How did employers generally view unions? Why? MULTIPLE

Employers generally viewed unions as conspiracies that interfered with property rights. The courts, generally, ruled in favor of the employers since unions did not have a legal basis to exist.

Which unions generally failed during the late 1800s? Why? MULTIPLE

Industrial unions generally failed during the late 1800s because workers could be easily replaced since they lacked specialized skills. In contrast, employers had to negotiate with trade unions because the unions represented workers whose skills they needed.

Did most unions in the late 1800s admit women? Why or why not? MULTIPLE

Most unions excluded women. Women were paid less than men even when they performed the same jobs. It was assumed that a woman had a man helping support her. Having women in the workforce did not increase wages; therefore, most unions excluded them.

What was the dominant union of the late 1800s? MULTIPLE

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was the dominant labor organization of the late 1800s. The AFL focused on promoting the interests of skilled workers.

lockout:

a company tool to fight union demands by refusing to allow employees to enter its facilities to work

Lockout: SHORT

a company tool to fight union demands by refusing to allow employees to enter its facilities to work no work = no pay used by companies to keep workers from forming unions workers who were locked out were replaced by workers who took oaths or signed contracts promising not to join a union efforts to break unions often succeeded because there were no laws giving workers the right to form unions or requiring owners to negotiate with them courts frequently ruled that strikes were "conspiracies in restraint of trade"

injunction

a court order whereby one is required to do or to refrain from doing a specified act

deflation

a decline in the volume of available money or credit that results in lower prices, and therefore increases the buying power of money

Deflation: SHORT

a decline in the volume of available money or credit that results in lower prices, and therefore increases the buying power of money industrialism led to a dramatic rise in the standard of living the average worker's wages rose by 50% deflation caused prices to fall, which increased the buying power of worker's wages companies cut wages regularly in the late 1800s (since the buying power increased) workers resented getting less money so they began to form unions unions bargained for higher wages and better working conditions

closed shop:

an agreement in which a company agrees to hire only union members

industrial union

an organization of common laborers and craft workers in a particular industry

arbitration

settling a dispute by agreeing to accept the decision of an impartial outsider