Working Hard for the American Dream
Workers and Their Unions, World War I to the Present
The American History Series
1. Auflage April 2013
302 Seiten, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-118-54140-1
John Wiley & Sons
Working Hard for the American Dream examines the various
economic, social, and political developments that shaped labor
history in the United States from World War I until the present
day.
* Presents an overview of labor history that also considers women
workers, ethnic America, and post-World War II workers
* Incorporates the most recent scholarship in labor history
* Takes the story of labor up to the present day in a readable
and accessible manner
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Back to the Future 1
1 "Everyone Was Ready For Unionism": The
Precursors, Promises, and Pitfalls of Industrial Unions in the
1930s 10
Political Prelude: Industrial Democracy Betrayed, from Wilson to
Hoover 12
Corporate Prelude: The Unintended Consequences of 1920s
Corporate Policies 25
Working-Class Prelude: Activism 32
A New Deal for Workers: A Failed and Flawed Start 41
Fighting for Unionism in the 1930s Without Meaningful Federal
Protection 44
The Wagner Act and Industrial Unionism 48
Corporate Resistance and Workers' Unity 58
Extending the New Deal for Workers 61
Assessing Workers' New Deal and Industrial Unionism 65
Conclusion 68
2 Big Wars, Big Labor, Big Costs 70
Wartime Mobilization, 1939-1941 73
Government Intervention: War Industries and Labor Policies,
1941-1945 87
Wartime Demographic Developments 93
Crisis in Industrial Relations, 1945-1946 103
Postwar Politics and Taft-Hartley, 1946-1948 108
Political (Mis)calculations: Operation Dixie, CIO Purges, and
International Alliances, 1946-1950s 114
Big Labor, Big Costs, 1955-1960s 120
Conclusion 127
3 Civil Rights Versus Labor Rights, 1960s-1970s
128
Expanding Public and Service Sectors 131
Public Sector Workers and Union Rights 133
New Laws and Workplace Challenges 141
Women and Workplace Rights 151
The Push and Pull of Changing Times: New Unionists,
Rank-and-File Movements, AFL-CIO Leaders, and Nixon 157
Unionists Divided and Under Siege 169
Conclusion 172
4 Working More for Less and Other Troubles for Workers in the
Late Twentieth Century 174
Profit Making in a Global World 176
The Human Price of Modern Capitalism 182
The Political Shaping of the Economy 189
The AFL-CIO Leadership's Resistance to Change 199
Innovation and Possibilities 205
Change from the Bottom-Up 216
Conclusion 222
Epilogue: The Illusive American Dream: A Personal Journey
224
Bibliographical Essay 253
Index 278
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Back to the Future 1
1 "Everyone Was Ready For Unionism": The
Precursors, Promises, and Pitfalls of Industrial Unions in the
1930s 10
Political Prelude: Industrial Democracy Betrayed, from Wilson to
Hoover 12
Corporate Prelude: The Unintended Consequences of 1920s
Corporate Policies 25
Working-Class Prelude: Activism 32
A New Deal for Workers: A Failed and Flawed Start 41
Fighting for Unionism in the 1930s Without Meaningful Federal
Protection 44
The Wagner Act and Industrial Unionism 48
Corporate Resistance and Workers' Unity 58
Extending the New Deal for Workers 61
Assessing Workers' New Deal and Industrial Unionism 65
Conclusion 68
2 Big Wars, Big Labor, Big Costs 70
Wartime Mobilization, 1939-1941 73
Government Intervention: War Industries and Labor Policies,
1941-1945 87
Wartime Demographic Developments 93
Crisis in Industrial Relations, 1945-1946 103
Postwar Politics and Taft-Hartley, 1946-1948 108
Political (Mis)calculations: Operation Dixie, CIO Purges, and
International Alliances, 1946-1950s 114
Big Labor, Big Costs, 1955-1960s 120
Conclusion 127
3 Civil Rights Versus Labor Rights, 1960s-1970s
128
Expanding Public and Service Sectors 131
Public Sector Workers and Union Rights 133
New Laws and Workplace Challenges 141
Women and Workplace Rights 151
The Push and Pull of Changing Times: New Unionists,
Rank-and-File Movements, AFL-CIO Leaders, and Nixon 157
Unionists Divided and Under Siege 169
Conclusion 172
4 Working More for Less and Other Troubles for Workers in the
Late Twentieth Century 174
Profit Making in a Global World 176
The Human Price of Modern Capitalism 182
The Political Shaping of the Economy 189
The AFL-CIO Leadership's Resistance to Change 199
Innovation and Possibilities 205
Change from the Bottom-Up 216
Conclusion 222
Epilogue: The Illusive American Dream: A Personal Journey
224
Bibliographical Essay 253
Index 278
"Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of
students; faculty and researchers; professionals; general
readers." (Choice, 1 October 2013)
"In this impressive synthesis of the literature of the field,
Storch has deftly accessed both standards within the New Labor
History and cutting-edge material, offering at once an excellent
text to undergraduate students surveying the field and an
invaluable narrative to graduate students and scholars reaching for
a source to understand current thinking. Her writing is crisp and
clear, and she balances chronology and themes masterfully."
--Daniel Katz, Dean of Labor Studies and Professor of History,
National Labor College
"The text not only proceeds at a nice pace but is infused with a
dynamism and sense of importance that students will certainly
appreciate. Storch's ability to cover so many topics and
maintain a sense of momentum is admirable."
--Kathleen Mapes, Associate Professor of History, SUNY Geneseo
students; faculty and researchers; professionals; general
readers." (Choice, 1 October 2013)
"In this impressive synthesis of the literature of the field,
Storch has deftly accessed both standards within the New Labor
History and cutting-edge material, offering at once an excellent
text to undergraduate students surveying the field and an
invaluable narrative to graduate students and scholars reaching for
a source to understand current thinking. Her writing is crisp and
clear, and she balances chronology and themes masterfully."
--Daniel Katz, Dean of Labor Studies and Professor of History,
National Labor College
"The text not only proceeds at a nice pace but is infused with a
dynamism and sense of importance that students will certainly
appreciate. Storch's ability to cover so many topics and
maintain a sense of momentum is admirable."
--Kathleen Mapes, Associate Professor of History, SUNY Geneseo
Randi Storch is Professor of History at the State University of New York, College at Cortland. She is author of Red Chicago: American Communism at Its Grassroots, 1928-1935 (2007).
