The Employee: A Political History (Politics and Culture in Modern America)

In the present age of temp work, telecommuting, and outsourcing, millions of workers in the United States find themselves excluded from the category of "employee"—a crucial distinction that would otherwise permit unionization and collective bargaining. Tracing the history of the term since its entry into the public lexicon in the nineteenth century, Jean-Christian Vinel demonstrates that the legal definition of "employee" has always been politically contested and deeply affected by competing claims on the part of business and labor. Unique in the Western world, American labor law is premised on the notion that "no man can serve two masters"—workers owe loyalty to their employer, which in many cases is incompatible with union membership. __The Employee: A Political History__ historicizes this American exception to international standards of rights and liberties at work, revealing a little known part of the business struggle against the New Deal. Early on, progressives and liberals developed a labor regime that, intending to restore amicable relations between employer and employee, sought to include as many workers as possible in the latter category. But in the 1940s this language of social harmony met with increasing resistance from businessmen, who pressed their interests in Congress and the federal courts, pushing for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" that excluded groups such as foremen, supervisors, and knowledge workers. A cultural and political history of American business and law, __The Employee__ sheds historical light on contemporary struggles for economic democracy and political power in the workplace. In The Present Age Of Temp Work, Telecommuting, And Outsourcing, Millions Of Workers In The United States Find Themselves Excluded From The Category Of Employee -- A Crucial Distinction That Would Otherwise Permit Unionization And Collective Bargaining. Tracing The History Of The Term Since Its Entry Into The Public Lexicon In The Nineteenth Century, Jean-christian Vinel Demonstrates That The Legal Definition Of Employee Has Always Been Politically Contested And Deeply Affected By Competing Claims On The Part Of Business And Labor. Unique In The Western World, American Labor Law Is Premised On The Notion That No Man Can Serve Two Masters -- Workers Owe Loyalty To Their Employer, Which In Many Cases Is Incompatible With Union Membership. The Employee: A Political History Historicizes This American Exception To International Standards Of Rights And Liberties At Work, Revealing A Little Known Part Of The Business Struggle Against The New Deal. Early On, Progressives And Liberals Developed A Labor Regime That, Intending To Restore Amicable Relations Between Employer And Employee, Sought To Include As Many Workers As Possible In The Latter Category. But In The 1940s This Language Of Social Harmony Met With Increasing Resistance From Businessmen, Who Pressed Their Interests In Congress And The Federal Courts, Pushing For An Ever-narrower Definition Of Employee That Excluded Groups Such As Foremen, Supervisors, And Knowledge Workers. A Cultural And Political History Of American Business And Law, The Employee Sheds Historical Light On Contemporary Struggles For Economic Democracy And Political Power In The Workplace. -- Provided By Publisher. Introduction : A Man Can't Serve Two Masters -- Part 1. The Struggle For Harmony -- The Employé -- Struggling Against Class -- The Sociology Of Harmony -- Part Ii. The Battle For Loyalty -- Is A Foreman A Worker? -- The Other Side Of Industrial Pluralism -- Loyalty Ascendant -- The Wages Of Textualism -- Epilogue. Looking For Respect. Jean-christian Vinel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

A political, legal, intellectual, and social history of employment in America

In the present age of temp work, telecommuting, and outsourcing, millions of workers in the United States find themselves excluded from the category of "employee"—a crucial distinction that would otherwise permit unionization and collective bargaining. Tracing the history of the term since its entry into the public lexicon in the nineteenth century, Jean-Christian Vinel demonstrates that the legal definition of "employee" has always been politically contested and deeply affected by competing claims on the part of business and labor. Unique in the Western world, American labor law is premised on the notion that "no man can serve two masters"—workers owe loyalty to their employer, which in many cases is incompatible with union membership.

The Employee: A Political History historicizes this American exception to international standards of rights and liberties at work, revealing a little known part of the business struggle against the New Deal. Early on, progressives and liberals developed a labor regime that, intending to restore amicable relations between employer and employee, sought to include as many workers as possible in the latter category. But in the 1940s this language of social harmony met with increasing resistance from businessmen, who pressed their interests in Congress and the federal courts, pushing for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" that excluded groups such as foremen, supervisors, and knowledge workers. A cultural and political history of American business and law, The Employee sheds historical light on contemporary struggles for economic democracy and political power in the workplace.

A political, legal, intellectual, and social history of employment in America In the present age of temp work, telecommuting, and outsourcing, millions of workers in the United States find themselves excluded from the category of "employee"—a crucial distinction that would otherwise permit unionization and collective bargaining. Tracing the history of the term since its entry into the public lexicon in the nineteenth century, Jean-Christian Vinel demonstrates that the legal definition of "employee" has always been politically contested and deeply affected by competing claims on the part of business and labor. Unique in the Western world, American labor law is premised on the notion that "no man can serve two masters"—workers owe loyalty to their employer, which in many cases is incompatible with union membership. The Employee: A Political History historicizes this American exception to international standards of rights and liberties at work, revealing a little known part of the business struggle against the New Deal. Early on, progressives and liberals developed a labor regime that, intending to restore amicable relations between employer and employee, sought to include as many workers as possible in the latter category. But in the 1940s this language of social harmony met with increasing resistance from businessmen, who pressed their interests in Congress and the federal courts, pushing for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" that excluded groups such as foremen, supervisors, and knowledge workers. A cultural and political history of American business and law, The Employee sheds historical light on contemporary struggles for economic democracy and political power in the workplace. In the present age of temp work, telecommuting, and outsourcing, millions of workers in the United States find themselves excluded from the category of "employee" -- a crucial distinction that would otherwise permit unionization and collective bargaining. Tracing the history of the term since its entry into the public lexicon in the nineteenth century, Jean-Christian Vinel demonstrates that the legal definition of "employee" has always been politically contested and deeply affected by competing claims on the part of business and labor. Unique in the Western world, American labor law is premised on the notion that "no man can serve two masters" -- workers owe loyalty to their employer, which in many cases is incompatible with union membership. The Employee: A Political History historicizes this American exception to international standards of rights and liberties at work, revealing a little known part of the business struggle against the New Deal. Early on, progressives and liberals developed a labor regime that, intending to restore amicable relations between employer and employee, sought to include as many workers as possible in the latter category. But in the 1940s this language of social harmony met with increasing resistance from businessmen, who pressed their interests in Congress and the federal courts, pushing for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" that excluded groups such as foremen, supervisors, and knowledge workers. A cultural and political history of American business and law, The Employee sheds historical light on contemporary struggles for economic democracy and political power in the workplace. --Résumé de l'éditeur Overview In the present age of temp work, telecommuting, and outsourcing, millions of workers in the United States find themselves excluded from the category of "employee"--A crucial distinction that would otherwise permit unionization and collective bargaining. Tracing the history of the term since its entry into the public lexicon in the nineteenth century, Jean-Christian Vinel demonstrates that the legal definition of "employee" has always been politically contested and deeply affected by competing claims on the part of business and labor. Unique in the Western world, American labor law is premised on the notion that "no man can serve two masters"--workers owe loyalty to their employer, which in many cases is incompatible with union membership. The Employee: A Political History historicizes this American exception to international standards of rights and liberties at work, revealing a little known part of the business struggle against the New Deal. Early on, progressives and liberals developed a labor regime that, intending to restore amicable relations between employer and employee, sought to include as many workers as possible in the latter category. But in the 1940s this language of social harmony met with increasing resistance from businessmen, who pressed their interests in Congress and the federal courts, pushing for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" that excluded groups such as foremen, supervisors, and knowledge workers. A cultural and political history of American business and law, The Employee sheds historical light on contemporary struggles for economic democracy and political power in the workplace In the age of temp work, telecommuting, and outsourcing, millions of workers in the United States find themselves excluded from the category of "employee" - a crucial distinction that would otherwise permit unionization and collective bargaining. Tracing the history of the term since its entry into the public lexicon in the nineteenth century, the author demonstrates that the legal definition of "employee" has always been politically contested and deeply affected by competing claims on the part of business and labor. Unique in the Western world, American labor law is premised on the notion that "no man can serve two masters" - workers owe loyalty to their employer, which in many cases is incompatible with union membership. This book historicizes this American exception to international standards of rights and liberties at work, revealing a little known part of the business struggle against the New Deal. Early on, progressives and liberals developed a labor regime that, intending to restore amicable relations between employer and employee, sought to include as many workers as possible in the latter category. But in the 1940s, this language of social harmony met with increasing resistance from businessmen, who pressed their interests in Congress and the federal courts, pushing for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" that excluded groups such as foremen, supervisors, and knowledge workers. A cultural and political history of American business and law, this book sheds historical light on contemporary struggles for economic democracy and political power in the workplace. -- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Introduction. "A Man Can't Serve Two Masters" 10 PART I: THE STRUGGLE FOR HARMONY 20 Chapter 1 The "Employé" 22 Chapter 2 Struggling Against Class 41 Chapter 3 The Sociology of Harmony 72 PART II: THE BATTLE FOR LOYALTY 96 Chapter 4 Is a Foreman a Worker? 98 Chapter 5 The Other Side of Industrial Pluralism 134 Chapter 6 Loyalty Ascendant 166 Chapter 7 The Wages of Textualism 205 Epilogue. Looking for Respect 237 Notes 244 Index of Cases 288 General Index 292 Acknowledgments 300 The Employee examines how American businesses dominated and influenced labor law as they pushed for an ever-narrower definition of "employee" and maneuvered to exclude workers from the right to organize.