The twilight of the Old Unionism / Leo Troy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Troy, Leo.

Series:

Issues in work and human resources

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Labor unions--United States--History.

Labor unions.

United States.

History.

Labor movement--United States--History.

Labor movement.

Physical Description:

xv, 181 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Armonk, N.Y. : M.E. Sharpe, [2004]

Summary:

This controversial but well-documented and deftly argued study analyzes the present and future prospects for organized labor in the private sector. Leo Troy, a leading researcher in the field of unionization trends, takes the decline of labor unions -- not just in the United States but elsewhere in the developed world -- as fact. Beginning with this premise, Troy goes on to elaborate on the extent and reasons for the decline by addressing four vital questions for readers: Can private-sector unionism, which Troy identifies as "Old Unionism," ever make a comeback? If organized labor cannot recover, what are the consequences for both unionized and non-unionized workers? What is the experience of other countries, particularly Canada whose industrial relations parallels that of the United States? And, finally, what explains the international decline and change in the character of unionism? Troy concludes that the "twilight" will transform the union movement in the United States and its philosophical and political outlook. Unionism will be dominated by its public sector wing, thus altering what unions are and what they can do.

Contents:

1. The Flow and Ebb of the Old Unionism 3

From Trough to Peak, 1933-1953 3

From Peak to Twilight Zone 9

Profile of the Old Unionism 9

Rise of the New Unionism 13

2. Why Is the Old Unionism in the Twilight Zone? 15

Reasons 15

Structural Change

Economic 17

Public Employment

A Subset of the Shift from Goods to Services 28

Structural Change and Public Policy 28

Summary of Structural Changee 29

Organizing the Unorganized: Employer Opposition 29

Organizing the Unorganized: Employee Opposition 31

Is There a Representation Gap? 38

Deindustrialization or Deunionization? 43

3. Will There Be a Turnaround of the Old Unionism? 45

The Issues and the Answers 45

How to Revive the Old Unionism

According to the Unions and Their Supporters 46

Labor Law Reform 62

4. The Brave New World of the American Labor Movement 65

The Transformation of the American Labor Movement 65

Statistical Profile of the Brave New World of the Labor Movement 67

Are Municipal Collective Bargaining and Municipal Governance Compatible? 71

1. The Bankruptcy of New York City, 1975 76

2. The San Jose School District Case, 1983 80

3. The Philadelphia Story, 1992 81

Education, the Teachers' Unions, and the Living Wage 88

How Public Employees Became Organized 91

Characteristics of Local Bargaining 96

Concluding Comments on Municipal Unionism and Municipal Governance 99

Origins of the Brave New World 100

Philosophy, Policies, and Consequences of the Brave New World 108

Conclusions: The Brave New World 109

5. Is the Twilight of the Old Unionism Unique to the United States? 111

Is Canada an Exception in the Decline of the Old Unionism? 113

Two Models of Canadian Union Trends 116

Why the Canadian Experience Is Important 120

Employer Opposition 121

Concession Bargaining 123

The Canadian Public Sector Industrial Relations System 125

The Canadian Private Sector Industrial Relations System 133

The Free Trade Agreement 137

6. Is the Democratic Party the Labor Party of the United States? 139

Origin of the Argument 139

From Trade Union to Political Partner 140

The Value of Unions' In-Kind Contributions 143

Can the Union Movement Sustain $400 Million in Political Expenditures? 144

What Services Do Unions Demand from the Democratic Party? 145

Should There Be Campaign Finance Limitations on Unions? 147.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-169) and index.

ISBN:

0765607468

0765607476

OCLC:

52846430