As Unions Mature : An Analysis of the Evolution of American Unionism

With 18 million members and with power and influence that penetrate industry, the financial centers, community life, and even foreign trade, trade unionism in America has come of age. Gone is much of the old militancy and aggressiveness that so characterized unions before World War II. In this short book a wise and experienced observer attempts to explain why. He points out the factors that influence the ageing of unions, the settling clown process, and the social and economic implications of advanced unionism. He examines the experiences of five major unions, Amalgamated Clothing Workers, United Automobile Workers, the Carpenters, the Teamsters, and the United Mine Workers; and for comparison the labor movement trends in both Britain and Sweden. Here is a foundation for understanding the "mature" unions of today and for intelligent judgment of current proposals for union reform. Originally published in 1958. The **Princeton Legacy Library** uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. CONTENTS FOREWORD PREFACE I. INTRODUCTION Scope of Inquiry Plan of Book Assumptions about the Future II. THE ESSENCE OF UNIONISM Bargaining and Political Aspects Role in Democratic Society III. THE CHANGING CHARACTER OF AMERICAN UNIONISM Centralization of Functions and Control Alteration in Top Leadership Decline in Militancy IV. MANAGEMENT AND OTHER EXTERNAL INFLUENCES Changes in Management Maturing Union-Management Relations General Economic Conditions The Cultural Climate Community Integration Political Action V. DYNAMIC FORCES IN AMERICAN UNIONISM The Missionary Spirit The Role of Rivalry DecUning Opportunity for Innovation Unions as "Sleepy Monopolies" VI. CORRUPTING INFLUENCES IN AMERICAN UNIONISM Erosion of Union Ideals Decay of Union Democracy Union Methods and Power VII. EXPERIENCE IN BRITAIN AND SWEDEN The Ageing of British Unionism Swedish Unionism: Vigorous Maturity VIII. EXPERIENCE IN INDIVIDUAL UNIONS The Amalgamated Clothing Workers The United Automobile Workers The Carpenters The Teamsters The Mine Workers Similarity of Development IX. THE THEORY OF UNION DEVELOPMENT General Tendencies and Long-run Trends Short-term Swings Summary of the Theory Limitations and Qualifications X. THE EVOLUTION OF UNION-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS Common Trends Trends in Collective Bargaining Collective Bargaining in the Future XI. IMPLICATIONS FOR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Theory of the Union Wage Theory XII. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY Role of the State Some Crucial Issues An Evolutionary Perspective FOOTNOTE REFERENCES INDEX