“Solidarity Forever, for the Union makes us Strong”: Labor versus
Management Techniques
To address issues related to the industrial workplace, workers organized unions. They joined either a Craft Union,
which was a union made up of only skilled workers who possess a particular craft (electrical workers, steel operators, etc.), or
an Industrial Union which organized unskilled, manual laborers.
If the following technique would be used by labor label it with an L, if it would be used by management then label
it with an M. Then, in the right hand column, state how this would benefit either labor or management
Strike: A union authorized work stoppage, which is organized by
union leaders and voted on by the membership.
Wildcat Strike: A strike initiated by union workers but without the
permission of the union leadership.
Boycott: To refuse to engage in a particular activity at the
workplace. Usually organized by the union leadership and approved
by the membership.
Open Shop: A business or factory that employs workers without
regard to union membership.
Closed Shop: A business or factory whose employees are required
to be union members as a prerequisite for employment. Usually
results from a strong union being located at this work site.
Yellow Dog Contract/Iron Clad Oath: A contact in which the
employee agrees not to join a union as long as they are employed.
Failure to uphold the contract would result in the immediate loss of
the job.
Pinkerton Guards: Hired “police forces” used to break strikes and
ensure that order could be kept in the workplace
Injunction: A court order requiring workers to stop a labor dispute
and work.
Scabs: A person, usually from a rival racial or ethnic group, hired to
replace striking workers. Usually work for less money
Collective bargaining: When the labor union bargains a contract
for all of its members rather than individuals negotiating their own
contracts
Seniority: The longer a person has been employed the more
difficult it is to fire them. Seniority helped to protect union workers,
and would be negotiated by the unions as part of a contract
Lockout: Employers refuse to allow union workers to work during a
labor dispute.
Picketing: A group of people stationed outside of a workplace to
express grievances or protest and discourage entry by non-striking
employees or customers.
Blacklisting: A list of strikers or labor organizers who have created
trouble and who should not be hired any longer.
Check off (union dues): Collecting union dues through payroll
deduction, helps to make sure the union can get the money it needs
to function.
Featherbedding: The practice of requiring an employer to hire
more workers than are needed in order to comply with safety
regulations or union rules. Helps add more people to the union.
Arbitration: Calling in a neutral third party to help resolve the
strike.
Fringe benefits: Benefits, negotiated for by the union hat are in
addition to a person’s regular paycheck.