Labor Unions: Strong Voice Almost Silenced

For over a century, Labor had power and influence.  Labor Unions helped create a holiday for workers.  The first Labor Day was held in 1882.  The Central Labor Union wanted a federal holiday for workers, and their mission was successful in 1894.

African Americans have participated in labor actions since the Civil war.  In the early 1900’s, African Americans played a major role in the caulking industry where ships were plugged and made seaworthy. And, they recognized their power, staging a strike in 1835 in a Washington naval yard.

Labor Unions and African Americans have had a long, fruitful relationship. As early as the nineteenth century, African Americans had found an ally in unions. Great growth occurred in the membership ranks over the years. In 1930, the numbers were small with only one in every 100 members of the union being African American. By the late 20^th century, it had grown to one in five.

Black and Blue, the book by Paul Frymer, documents African Americans, the Labor movement and the decline of the Democratic Party.  Frymer writes that many civil rights battles were waged to correct injustice in the workplace. He argues that because neither labor nor the civil rights effort had enough power, labor lost its position as the vanguard of the working class. It is also Frymer’s supposition that the Democratic Party helped erode labor’s base.

There is little argument that labor’s influence has diminished over recent years. Fifty years ago one-third of American workers belonged to unions.  Those numbers are much different today. You might say establishing better workers’ rights eliminated the demand for some labor unions. The unions that have maintained a strong position have done so by retooling and redirecting their power. For example, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) continues to advocate for its membership by fighting for federal minimum wage increases. It also solidified its base by organizing underserved workers, including nurses, janitors and service employees. SEIU is one of the strongest union groups in the nation with 2.1 million members.

The “industrial restructuring” has also played a crucial role in labor’s loss of power. The elimination of manufacturing jobs, advancements in technology, and the frequent outsourcing of jobs have all accelerated the decline. Among many rank-and-file workers, President Barack Obama is applauded for bailing out the auto industry and saving thousands of jobs.

In January 2012, close to 250,000 jobs were created. The auto industry is once again a leading job generator. Its resurgence is being credited with helping the economy continue its slow but steady recovery. The jobless rate dropped 2.2 percent in January to 13.6 percent for African Americans, the lowest since March 2009.

Labor is being called upon for a big showing in November. The AFL-CIO, along with a number of other organizations, is planning a massive campaign this election season.  In light of unprecedented attacks on voter rights and suppression tactics, the Vice-President of the AFL-CIO in Texas says, “this year the AFL-CIO will run the strongest voter protection campaign ever because the attacks from the Right are unprecedented.”