Labor Unions: Representing Workers Not Management
Want to find out how unions are formed, how they are run and how management may want to deal with them? Here is an explanation and history of these organizations organized to promote the rights of workers.
Profile: Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) has played a major role in the history of the American labor movement from the 1930s until the 1950s, when it merged with the AFL to form the AFL-CIO. Here is its story.
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) has played a major role in the history of the American labor movement from the 1930s until the 1950s, when it merged with the AFL to form the AFL-CIO. Here is its story.
Profile: American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Before there was an AFL-CIO, there was an AFL. It was known as the American Federation of Labor and had millions of members. Here is what they did and details about their influence over labor relations.
Before there was an AFL-CIO, there was an AFL. It was known as the American Federation of Labor and had millions of members. Here is what they did and details about their influence over labor relations.
Profile: United Auto Workers (UAW) Union
The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) has a major stake in the health of the U.S. auto industry. Here's some historical background on the UAW and its significance.
The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) has a major stake in the health of the U.S. auto industry. Here's some historical background on the UAW and its significance.
Profile: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Union
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a union representing educators, as well as many other professions. It has a major influence on national educational policy. Here's how it evolved.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a union representing educators, as well as many other professions. It has a major influence on national educational policy. Here's how it evolved.
Profile: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
AFSCME started with a focus on local civil service managers and then grew to include government employees from diverse fields. More recently, it has added many healthcare workers to its ranks. Here is its story.
AFSCME started with a focus on local civil service managers and then grew to include government employees from diverse fields. More recently, it has added many healthcare workers to its ranks. Here is its story.
Profile: UNITE HERE Union
The merger of some of the best-known unions from the early 1900s has led to creation of UNITE HERE, a national labor union representing diverse occupations and members. Here's how it came into being.
The merger of some of the best-known unions from the early 1900s has led to creation of UNITE HERE, a national labor union representing diverse occupations and members. Here's how it came into being.
Profile: International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union
International Brotherhood of Teamsters is one of the nation's best known unions. Here's how it evolved over the past century.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters is one of the nation's best known unions. Here's how it evolved over the past century.
Profile: Service Employees International Union SEIU
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has been steadily growing in membership reversing a trend found in many other U.S. labor unions. Here's an explanation of some of its success.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has been steadily growing in membership reversing a trend found in many other U.S. labor unions. Here's an explanation of some of its success.
Solidarity Charters for Local & State Unions
The AFL-CIO's Solidarity Charter program has encouraged a unified labor movement at the state and local level. Local unions can affiliate at the local level of the AFL-CIO even if their national unions have broken away from the AFL-CIO. Here's more about this new development.
The AFL-CIO's Solidarity Charter program has encouraged a unified labor movement at the state and local level. Local unions can affiliate at the local level of the AFL-CIO even if their national unions have broken away from the AFL-CIO. Here's more about this new development.
Pros and Cons of Unions: Should You Form One
Workers will find many benefits if they become members of a union. They will have more leverage when bargaining as a group to get higher wages, increased benefits and improved working conditions. Studies do show that union members in many fields earn more money than non-unionized employees. But be careful. National unions are always looking to expand their reach to different workplaces.
Workers will find many benefits if they become members of a union. They will have more leverage when bargaining as a group to get higher wages, increased benefits and improved working conditions. Studies do show that union members in many fields earn more money than non-unionized employees. But be careful. National unions are always looking to expand their reach to different workplaces.
Steps Employees Can Take to Organize a Union
Are you and your colleagues frustrated at work? Do you think laws are being violated or the pay is too low? Consider forming a union. Here's how the process unfolds.
Are you and your colleagues frustrated at work? Do you think laws are being violated or the pay is too low? Consider forming a union. Here's how the process unfolds.
List of National Labor Unions
Need to contact a union or find out more about it? Here is a list of information: address, phone number and web page for many national unions.
Need to contact a union or find out more about it? Here is a list of information: address, phone number and web page for many national unions.
What's In an Agreement: Database of Labor Contracts
This database, maintained by the University of California's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library, is an on-line clearinghouse for cataloged and digitized texts of union contracts. The contracts are listed by state, union name and represented occupation.
This database, maintained by the University of California's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library, is an on-line clearinghouse for cataloged and digitized texts of union contracts. The contracts are listed by state, union name and represented occupation.