Labor Unions: An Evolution of Influence

Open Access
- Author:
- Griffith, Grant Frederic
- Area of Honors:
- Finance
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Laura B Field, Thesis Supervisor
James Alan Miles, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Labor
Unions
Employment - Abstract:
- The effects of the Industrial Revolution forever changed the course of labor history in the United States and throughout the world. The advent of new technologies in essence transformed the predominantly local American economy largely based on agriculture into a national one with thriving manufacturing and goods-producing businesses. In accord with this transformation a major shift in American employment occurred. A new industrial working class was formed based on an employee-employer relationship that was largely unseen before. In response to the new business atmosphere and conditions confronting this working class, unions soon arose as a method through which the working class could voice their concerns in the marketplace. This thesis investigates the evolution of these American labor unions from the Industrial Revolution to the present in an effort to determine what conditions foster strong union influence, and if these conditions are present in the world today. First, I break down the history of American unions into three eras. For each of these eras I describe major developments and specific instances of union activity in order to provide the reader with important background information on labor history. Following this history, I analyze the successes/failures of union activity in these periods through factors such as industry concentration and economic trends in order to determine specific factors for why union influence was strong or not. These results are then extended into the future from both an American and international perspective. I argue that although union influence in the United States appears to be on a downward spiral with no clear end in sight, other developing countries across the globe exhibit certain characteristics that may prove susceptible to major union influence.