Read to respond duke university presss read to respond series highlights articles and books that engage with todays most pressing issues. Federation of german trade unions by gerard braunthal archon books, 1978. Labor day list of the twenty best books on workers and unions, books that. Filled with unforgettable characters who claim monumental places in american history, dray captures the personalities that carved the labor movement into the annals of american history. A research guide to primary and secondary sources for labor history. Congress creates the war labor administration to organize wartime production, giving the labor department an important role in the subsequent victory. A brief history of labor unions in the united states.
Webster founded the brotherhood of sleeping car porters. The 7 most prounion comic books ever made yes, when theyre not saving the planet, some of your favorite superheroes have stood up for workers rights view in app. In the history of americas trade and labor unions, the most famous union remains the american federation of labor afl, founded in 1886 by samuel gompers. Jones explores the history of labor through the lens of politics and economics that determined in different times what occupations were suitable for which group of individuals. Beaten down, worked up paints vivid portraits of labor champions, from the firebrands of the international ladies garment workers union in the early 20th century, to the african americans. A century of american labor this is a fine examination of labor history beginning in the 1930s. A history of the aflcio since 1979 u of north carolina press, 2017. Heres a history of organized labor in the united states 1869 one of the earliest and most influential labor organizations, the knights of labor is founded by philadelphia tailors. This increase in labor militancy over the past two years points to a labor movement that is growing in power, and with each strike more workers. Reading labor fiction and nonfiction is an effective way to learn history using the tools of literary drama bad, dangerous changes at the workplace. How labor can strengthen the middle class, improve our economy, and regain political influence dine, who brings a clear prounion agenda to his work, uses vivid contemporary examples to provide an overview of the labor movement and suggest ways for unions to regain influence. Were committed to improving the quality of life for union members and their families and that includes during difficult times. Looking to the future, moody shows how the rise of immigrant labor and its efforts at.
Included on this list are books that tell the story of the new jersey. Discover librarianselected research resources on labor history from the. About our library the labor center would like to acknowledge with gratitude will parrys generous donation of 430 books to our collection in 2012. A story of chicago, the first labor movement and the bombing that. The last ballad by wiley cash, death in the haymarket. American labor studies center welcome to the alsc, your.
With an appendix showing the history and aims of the american federation of labor 10th edition, 1902, by william trant multiple. Harvard economist richard freeman recommends the best books to get an understanding of the history and theory of labour unions. The american federation of labor was founded by samuel gompers in 1886. The national labor union was created in 1866 to convince congress to limit the workday for federal employees to eight hours, but the private sector was much harder for unions to penetrate. The labor union movement in america social studies help. List of books and articles about labor unions online. In medieval towns, however, the skilled artisans of the craft guilds became influential citizens. The impact women have made in labor history is often missing from textbooks and the media despite the numerous roles women have played to organize, unionize. In the feudal period agricultural labor was in the main performed by the serf.
In ancient times much of the work was done by slaves see slavery. Books donated him are marked with a special commemorative bookplate, and our entire library was named the will parry library in honor of his lifelong work in the labor movement. The union grew from about 220,000 members to more than 1 million during his presidency. In organized labor, a hiring hall is an organization, usually under the auspices of a labor union, which has the responsibility of furnishing new recruits for employers who have a collective bargaining agreement with the union the employers use of the hiring hall may be voluntary, or it may be compulsory by the terms of the employers contract with the union or, in a few cases, the labor. The american labor studies center alsc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to create, collect and disseminate labor history and labor studies curriculum materials and resources to k12 teachers nationwide through this web site and via conferences, workshops, seminars and exhibits and to restore the kate mullany national historic site in troy, new york where it is located. A comprehensive bibliography of information, documents and links of u. List of books and articles about labor history online research.
Most compelling are two essays about labor and community. Steven greenhouses beaten down, worked up digs into labor. A look at labor history in young adult books deborah wilson overstreet as a teacher and amateur historian, i have always been intrigued and inspired by early labor history. Journalism for a changing union movement discusses contemporary union newspapers, speculating on the possibilities of a national labor paper and what it might accomplish for the labor movement. Mother jones, eugene debs, and big bill haywood were some of my historical heroes. James green is a historian and the author of six books on american labor. The first of these was the national labor union formed in 1866. Models of union governance in the uk, germany and us 2017. Given the diffusion of materials and the fact that the records of many defunct unions perished with the unions that created them, this is an extremely complete series. It lacks social and political context, but it does highlight a few of the most important events. The bscp was the very first africanamerican labor union to sign a collective bargaining agreement with a major u. The class strikes back examines case studies of twentyfirstcentury workers struggles from both the global north and south, highlighting the stories of workers fighting to organize and join democratic and independent unions. New groups continued to form during this era including the knights of labor and the american federation of labor afl.
Us labor in trouble and transition tells the story of union decline in america and of the split in the labor movement it led to, following the dismal tale of union mergers and management partnerships that accompanied the retreat from militancy since the 1980s. A century of american labor 2003 excerpt and text search. American labor unions constitutions and proceedings, 1836. Its rare that sociology or history books about unions treat workers who opposed unions with the respect that they deserve. List of books and articles about labor history online. The union movements proud past information from the aflcios website, including biographies of labor leaders, timeline of labor history milestones, labor history links, and more. Today in labor history may 8, 2020 voices of labor.
Drays history of the american labor union is certainly. List of books and articles about labor unions online research. For many children today, labor day is just a holiday marking the end of the summer. This organization helped persuade congress to set a federal eighthour workday, which applied to government employees illinois labor history society. Using picture books to teach about the history of solidarity, labor unions and the fight for fair labor practices is a great way celebrate labor day. Labor unions california history 20th century 1 title labor unions congresses 14 titles, plus subtopics labor unions directories 1 title, plus subtopics labor unions discipline 1 title, plus subtopics labor unions employees. European labor unions provides a picture of the evolution of trade unionism in europe.
Today in labor history may 20, 2020 may 9, 2020 may 20, 2020 by steve the first american public school was established in dorchester, massachusetts. Additionally, there is a chapter on european regional organizations. From that time on, local craft unions proliferated in the cities, publishing lists of prices for their work, defending their trades against diluted and cheap labor. Our top picks of books for children and teens about the girls and women who fought for workers rights. It includes 31 national chapters representing all european countries at the time the book was planned in 1988, with the exceptiuon of andorra, liechtenstein, and monaco, but including such countries as turkey, iceland, and yugoslavia. Drays history of the american labor union is certainly comprehensive its more than 800 pages long, covering two centuries of labor history. That is a tragedy, because labor played and continues to play a key role in the development of american democracy and the american way of life. Few books move with the power and ease of there is power in a union. In 1909, the american federation of labor coined it as a prequel to labor day itself on the books since 1894. The accomplishment of those goals were sought through the passage of such acts as the national labor relations wagner act of 1935, an enactment that enlarged the rights of unions and created the national labor relations board, and by protective labor legislation such as the fair labor standards act 1938 and the social security act 1935. The end of american labor unions is an extraordinary read and a fundamentally imperative addition to academic library reference american labor history reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. The brotherhood was the very first africanamerican labor union to sign a collective bargaining agreement with a major u.