Strategic Labor Organizing in the Era of Industrial Transformation: A Comparative Historical Analysis of Unionization in Steel and Coal, 1870-1916

Abstract

Between 1870 and 1916 rapid and widespread mechanization and capitalization dramatically transformed the means and relations of production in the mass industries. At the same time, increasing ethnic diversity challenged the class basis of labor solidarity. The cases of steel and bituminous coal mining illustrate important contrasting responses to these forces on the part of organized labor. In particular, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers lost members and became increasingly ineffectual, while the United Mine Workers underwent intense and sustained growth. Our comparison of the two unions' notably different trajectories reveals the importance of socio-historical factors as well as union strategies for dealing with technological innovation and ethnic divisions.

The Role of Organized Labor in Civil Society

“…meaningful networks of relationships) in countless communities (see Early ). Often the coherence resulting from such interaction has been linked to racial or ethnic insularity; sometimes it has been more inclusive (Brueggemann and Brown ). Most importantly, in this regard, by cultivating solidarity through activism and facilitating the skills for such work, unions have fostered “bonding social capital” (Putnam ) within the labor movement (Dixon et al ; Fantasia ).…”

“…That is, established unions historically favored skilled workers who were predominantly US born, White, and male. This changed to a large extent with the rise of the CIO (Brueggemann and Boswell ; Brueggemann and Brown ). It is less of a factor than it used to be, for sure, as demonstrated by the high union rates of people of color (Rosenfeld and Kleykamp , ).…”

The Decline of Industrial Unionism in the Meatpacking Industry:

“…2 One major class of explanations involves the economic restructuring associated with postindustrialism and globalization. In the United States, the automation of production has promoted job de-skilling, minimizing employers' dependence on experienced manufacturing workers and undercutting the ability of industrial unions to win concessions through collective action (see Braverman, 1974;Brueggemann & Brown, 2000;Edwards, 1979;Katznelson, 1981). Increasing educational attainment and the associated expansion of credentialed positions has facilitated social mobility and affluence, blunted class antagonisms, and drastically reduced the proportion of industrial jobs (Bell, 1973;Dark, 1999;Pestillo, 1979).…”

‘Dark as a dungeon’: technological change and government policy in the deunionization of the American coal industry

“…The United Mine Workers' (UMW) charismatic president, John L. Lewis, was a central figure in the founding and growth of the industrial union federation, the CIO, and the unionization of coal helped to fuel organizing efforts in steel and other heavy industries (Brueggemann and Brown 2000;Dubofsky and Van Tine 1986;Zieger 1995).…”