Unions in America

Gary Chaison is Professor of Industrial Relations at the Graduate School of Management at Clark University.

"Chapters in this excellent primer for understanding the background and current challenges facing the US labor movement focus on the historical background, the structure and growth . .  and the labor movement′s future in a dramatically transformed economy. Especially useful in this brief book are the discussions of unions′ political activities and their prospects for revitalization."

• IntroductionChapter 1 - The Evolution of Labor UnionsThe Early YearsThe Knights of LaborThe American Federation of LaborConfrontations with EmployersThe Industrial Workers of the World and Revolutionary UnionismUnion Decline and Resurgence During the Years Between the WarsUnion Solidarity and PowerThe Erosion of the Labor AccordThe Rise of Public Sector UnionismThe Search for Union RevivalChapter 2 - Union Structure and GrowthNational and UnionsUnion Locals and Intermediate BodiesThe Labor FederationUnion JurisdictionUnion MergersUnion Membership and DeclineThe Causes of Union Growth and DeclineHow Unions OrganizeChapter 3 - Union Government and AdministrationThe Union ConstitutionUnion ConventionsUnion officers and Governing BodiesLocal Union GovernmentUnion DemocracyCorruption in UnionsUnions and Information TechnologyUnion EffectivenessChapter 4 - The Union as Bargaining AgentThe Fundamentals of BargainingCollective Bargaining StructureCollective Bargaining AgreementsThe Return of Concessionary BargainingThe Decline of the StrikeChapter 5 - Unions in PoliticsUnion Political ActionUnion Political CampaignsLiving WagesLabor Law ReformTwo Campaigns in CaliforniaShopping Wal-MartChapter 6 - Union RevivalOrganizingCollective BargainingPolitical ActionChanging the Unions′ Mission and SturctureChapter 7 -- The Unions of the FutureRetreatReboundAppendix: Selective Bibliography and Industrial Relations Websites