Labor Unions

1
Labor Unions

• Great Depression

2
What are they and why were they formed?

• Labor Unions are organizations formed by
  employees with the intent to protect workers from
  being taken advantage of by their employers.
• Employees were tired of poor working conditions
  and knew that individually they had no power, but
  together they could influence their bosses.

3
Sit-Down Strike

• One of the first occurred in Flint, December
  30th, 1936 at the General Motors (GM) Plant.
• The UAW (United Auto Workers) was afraid that GM
  would close the plant and open a new plant where
  the Union was not as strong.
• Workers stayed in plants for the strike so no new
  workers could come in.
• Women organized first aid stations and child care
  to assist striking workers.

http//www.sos.state.mi.us/history/museum/explore/
museums/hismus/1900-75/depressn/laborun.html
4
Labor Union is Formally Recognized

• On March 12th, 1937, GM recognized the UAW
  (United Auto Workers) as the official bargaining
  agent for the employees.
• As a result of the success of the UAW, other
  unions grew and spread across the country.

http//school.phippy.com/uniongrowth/what_a_union_
is.html