black power Flashcards
(30 cards)
how many strikes were there on average 1967-64
5,200 strikers per year (compared to 4,000 in preceding decade)
example of strikes in 1960s
- dodge revolutionary union movement (DRUM - large AA union consisting of militant workers) organised wildcat strike at chrysler’s dodge main plant (may 1968)
- memphis sanitation workers’ strike (1968) where 1,300 workers organised strike against city demanding better conditions/wages/union recognition & MLK gave speech ‘i’ve been to the mountaintop’ to rally support
- 1969-70 wildcat strikes (hotpoint, chicago)
why did strike action increase
inspired by black power movement
average strike days 1967-71
49.5 million (peaked with 66.4 million strike days in 1970)
how did kennedys ‘new frontier’ (1960s) try to improve some aspects of labour
increased minimum wage
limitations of kennedys ‘new frontier’ (1960s)
employers failed to keep promises despite signing anti-inflammatory agreements which limited power of TUs
benefits of johnson’s ‘great society’
created millions of new jobs
what did TUs begin to do
successfully bargain with leading firms
what did the membership of AFL-CIO rise to in 1955
16 million
how much did wages increase
20%
what did TU membership peak at in 1979
estimated 21 million
example of increase in black unions
coalition of black trade unions (1972) = represented almost 32 AA unions
examples of reduction in discrimination
- black labour/ethnic minorities increased contribution to TUs
- ~20% of membership in AFL-CIO’s largest unions was AA in 1970
- civil rights act 1964
what did black power encourage trade unions to do
ban racist practices & discrimination
what did the black power movement focus on & how did this link to TUs/labour rights
focused on issues of poverty = many AA workers suffered from
workers legislation potentially influenced by black power movement
- economic opportunity act 1964
- equal pay act 1963
- age discrimination employment act 1968
- occupational health & safety act 1970
how was TUs/labour rights not influenced/helped by black power movement
- black power movement did little to emphasis economic position of AAs (greater concern for culture) = did little to improve their economic position as 1 point in 10-point programme
- placed great emphasis on differences between AAs/white americans which helped further divisions within labour movement (emphasised AA solidarity rather than worker unity)
what were workers encouraged no to do
= join unions
- feared getting sacked or rewards removed (eg. health insurance/welfare)
- TU membership declined in 1960s
PATCO strike 1981
- fired 11,000 air traffic control workers
- condemned by public & showed little sympathy from federal government
- reagan stepped in to dismantle strike = demonstrated weakening powers of TUs
results of PATCO strike 1981
TU membership declined from 27% (1970) to 12% (1990)
how many americans were living under poverty line during 1960s
more than 35 million (20%)
what did PATCO strike violate
1955 act preventing government workers striking
how many strikes in 1970 compared to 1990
1970 = 381 strikes (2,468,000 involved)
1990 = 44 strikes (185,000 involved)
equal pay act 1963
made wage discrimination on basis of gender illegal
