Labor Unions
Labor Unions- The Movements during the Great Depression
The Great Depression was a trying time for United States citizens in the 1930s. It affected the rich and poor, old and young; just about everyone. The impact this depression had was great, and influenced many aspects of society. One aspect in particular was the emergence and development of labor movements due to the increasing rates of unemployment.
Unemployment was prevalent in the streets during the 1930s. “The Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000 persons were out of work in 1933, about one-fourth of a civilian labor force of over fifty-one million. March was the record month, with about fifteen and a half million unemployed. There is no doubt that 1933 was the worst year, and March the worst month for joblessness in the history of the United States” (1). The lack of alternate job opportunities, drought conditions, and cut on government expenses were a few of the factors that contributed to the mass amounts of unemployment.
Unemployment was prevalent in the streets during the 1930s. “The Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000 persons were out of work in 1933, about one-fourth of a civilian labor force of over fifty-one million. March was the record month, with about fifteen and a half million unemployed. There is no doubt that 1933 was the worst year, and March the worst month for joblessness in the history of the United States” (1). The lack of alternate job opportunities, drought conditions, and cut on government expenses were a few of the factors that contributed to the mass amounts of unemployment.
Unlike the customary union inactivity during widespread unemployment, the Great Depression was filled with massive amounts of picket lines, strikes, and workers fighting for better labor conditions. However, this activity was not eminent until around 1933. At that time, there were about 3 million union workers, as opposed to the 5 million a decade before. With Roosevelt’s newly passed pro-labor laws, the government had limited power to stop strikes and other job actions. In addition, the Wagner Act of 1955 gave workers the opportunity to negotiate through union representatives. This gave laborers the courage and support to join the union force, helping the union force grow to nine million in 1940.
“The single most important strike of the decade began on May 9, 1934 when longshoremen in Washington joined their counterparts in Oregon and California in a walkout that would shut down ports from Bellingham to San Diego for eighty-three days, freezing trade along the coast while creating a supply crisis for Alaska and Hawaii” (2). This strike inspired a wave of new protests. As you can see, the new acts created power for the common employee. If a working condition was that terrible, you had the right to fight it. Workers were now organizing protests and demanding higher wages and better working conditions. People were starting to realize that employers shouldn’t have all the power; employees should have a say. Teachers were starting unions. Retail workers, cab drivers, waiters, waitresses were all hopping on the union bandwagon.
For example, the Worker’s Alliance was one of the unions fighting for worker’s rights. “Demanding that WPA officials agree to collective bargaining, the Washington branch of the Workers Alliance initiated a walkout in January 1937. It quickly spread across the state, ultimately involving 5,000 WPA workers and shutting down 30 different projects. After two weeks, during which other unions made clear their support, WPA administrators agreed to bargain” (3). This shows the dedication these laborers had. None of this would have been possible without the support of the pro-labor laws. It gave the employee a voice.
In conclusion, unions took an a new meaning in the 1930s. While the Great Depression skyrocketed the unemployment rate, it helped create pro labor laws that strengthened the union force. It was a period of growth and change.
- http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/depwwii/unions/
- http://depts.washington.edu/depress/strikes_unions.shtml
- http://depts.washington.edu/depress/strikes_unions.shtml