Decline of the American Labor Movement
... Since that time there have been major turning points in labor history that has ensured the rights of American workers. ... in 1968, the American labor movement has been a vicious struggle. Two acts that helped to ensure the rights of workers were the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1937. ... “Section 7 of the NLRA gives workers the right to form labor unions without employer interference and compels employers to bargain collectively with unions chosen by the employees. ... 30) Whereas, “the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1937 provided for the payment of minimum wage and overtime pay for hours in excess of forty per week. ... 30) This act also banned child labor in interstate commerce. Despite these major achievements in American labor, there has been a noticeable decline in membership since the 1970s. The decline of the American labor movement coincides with a major turning point of its history. ... while he was supporting a strike for sanitation workers near Memphis, Tennessee struck a tremendous blow to leadership of the movement. ... edu) His death, in essence, started the decline of the labor movement. ... Another reason is that most managers today are anti-union and have discovered tactics to crush the union movement. What has also declined is the eminence of labor laws, and practices in general. Today’s citizens view the labor movement as not a big deal; “No one cares anymore. ... It is further my view point that the American labor movement is in decline today due to the increased management opposition of unions combined with the fact that there is weak, inefficient, and little labor organizing leadership in our country. Since 1970, not only has union membership declined, but the movement has lost its importance in the eyes of the American public. ... When Congress passed to Labor Management Relations Act know as the Taft-Hartley Act in June of 1947, labor become under attack. ... 154-155) This law put yet another damper on organized labor by giving management an opportunity of stalling union proceeding due to the federal involvement that the law brought which made labor matters more detailed, complex, and litigious. One of the reasons that the labor movement is in decline today is because of the increased management opposition of unions in general.