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UNION STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE | ||||
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Local Union Structure | ||||
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Local Officers & Leadership | ||||
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Stewards | ||||
TYPES OF UNIONS | |||||
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Independent Unions | ||||
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National Unions | ||||
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International Unions | ||||
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Public sector unions | ||||
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UNION STRATEGIES & PHILOSOPHIES | ||||
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Union Democracy | ||||
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The Labor Mvmt & Wkplace Democracy | ||||
UNIONS | |||||
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The AFL CIO | ||||
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AFSCME | ||||
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IAM | ||||
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IUOE | ||||
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Teamsters | ||||
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UAW | ||||
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Solidarity |
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Local unions, often called locals, are the smallest unit of labor organization | |||||
A local represents the wkrs in a particular plant, neighborhood, city, or other area | |||||
It is usually the local union that bargains w/ an employer, though the national union may assist | |||||
Locals vary in size from less than a dozen wkrs to many thousands of wkrs | |||||
The size of a local depends on the structure of the firm being organized in that some firms have relatively small shops w/ varying work conditions while other firms have relatively large shops w/ homogenous work conditions | |||||
Like any small org, small locals find it difficult to survive because of the basic costs of operation; thus, most unions prefer to have at least 50 members in a local, though many are smaller | |||||
Many local unions employ one or more people called business representatives or business agents | |||||
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Union employees, e.g. business reps, work full time for the union to administer the union's contract & to handle grievances |
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Locals are structured to handle day to day activities of the membership | |||||
Much of the local's efforts in the wkplace involve policing the contract & handling grievances | |||||
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The union members in each division of a company elect one of the members to serve as shop steward |
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The steward helps workers deal w/ mgt & ensures that union rules are followed in the dept |
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Most local unions also elect an executive board that includes a president, a secretary, & a treasurer | |||||
Some locals may be independent or stand alone types of unions, whereas today most are affiliated w/ other locals, or w/ a national or international union | |||||
If a local is affiliated w/ other locals, a national, or intl union, it will take some guidance from that org & will probably allocate some of its dues to that org | |||||
Regardless of its affiliation, the locals are generally the seat of all power in the Labor Mvmt because even when they belong to large nationals or intls, they elect representatives who govern at that level of the org | |||||
Locals vary along all the dimensions of orgl struc in that they have differing levels of bureaucratization, hierarchy, lines of authority, & participation in that some are very bureaucratic & some are not, etc. | |||||
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The Local may be defined along FOUR dimensions |
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a. crafts & industrial jurisdictions |
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b. geographic areas |
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c. specific staff support activities |
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d. level of union govt: union hierarchical level asserting jurisdiction |
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There are SEVEN characteristics of crafts & industrial jurisdictions |
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a. relatively small close knit |
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b. work for one employer |
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c. larger, mixed occupations |
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d. semi or unskilled jobs |
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e. skilled trade union |
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f. professional local |
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g. often chartered & affiliated w/ national union or directly w/ AFL CIO |
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Independent Local Unions |
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Independent unions may be defined as not having affiliations w/ large unions | |||||
Independent unions are the exception rather than the rule |
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That is to say there are many more affiliated unions than independent unions |
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Independent unions may be defined as not having affiliations w/ large unions, international unions or umbrellas orgs such as the AFL CIO |
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Independent unions continue to exist & have their roots in the pre Wagner era when paternalistic owners formed company unions via America Plan |
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An example of a company union is TRW who had a very strong company union |
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An example of an independent union is the Teamsters which was independent, then joined the AFL, then broke away from the AFL CIO, & then rejoined, & broke away again in 2005 | |||||
Therefore, in 2005, the Teamsters are now an independent union |
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In early 2000, a grp of doctors in Detroit voted to unionize & be represented in labor relations & contract negotiations by Physicians for Responsible Negotiation (PRN) | |||||
PRN is a nat labor org formed by the Am Medical Assoc | |||||
The PRN is the first independent national labor org serving physicians only | |||||
In the Soviet Union & other countries of E Euro, the role of labor unions changed in the late 1980s | |||||
The unions in Soviet Block had existed mainly to support the aims of govt planners & to help meet production goals | |||||
The Soviet govt determined wages & hours, & the power of unions to bargain on behalf of their members was severely limited | |||||
In the late 1980's, independent labor orgs emerged in E Euro, & wkrs regained the right to strike | |||||
Solidarity is a Polish independent union which fought for its independence from Polish, Communist domination, & then successfully fought for Polish independence from the Soviet Union in the 1980s |
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Public sector unions are those which represent workers in fed, state, city, or county govt or public employees |
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Two of the biggest public sectors unions are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), but public sector employees are represented by other unions such as the Clerical Workers at Indiana University who are represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA) |
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Many public sector employees such as teachers, police, & firefighters cannot form unions because it is illegal for them to strike; therefore, they often form associations such as the National Education Association (NEA) who conduct collective bargaining & other union functions for their employees |
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See Also: Unions | |||||
By the 1970s, public sector unions were growing very fast |
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In the 1960s, less than one third of fed employees belonged to labor organizations, but by 2000 almost two thirds were union members |
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From the 1960s to the 2000s, union membership among state, county, & local employees increased from one to five million bringing the unionization rate among eligible govt employees above 40%, higher than any private sector industry |
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A majority of states now utilize final & binding arbitration for some or all state employees |
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Arbitration allows collective bargaining in the public sector WITHOUT the use of strikes that might disrupt public services |
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While it is illegal for many public employees to strike, when collective bargaining breaks down, they often conduct "sick outs" or work slowdowns |
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Not all states have laws recognizing state workers' rights to join unions & negotiate their conditions of employment |
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There are FOUR types of nonfederal public sector labor orgs,
including:
1. all public sector unions 2. mixed public & private sector unions 3. state & local associations 4. unions & associations representing uniformed protective services |
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Examples of all public sector unions include the Intl Assoc of Fire Fighters (IAFF) & the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) |
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Examples of major mixed sector unions include the Service Employees Intl Union (SEIU) & the Teamsters | |||||
The Am Fed of State, County & Municipal Employees, (AFSCME) represents state & local unit wkrs | |||||
The Am Fed of Govt Employees (AFGE) represents fed wkrs | |||||
Postal service wkrs are represented by several national unions, such as the Am Postal Wkrs Union (APWU) & the National Assoc of Letter Carriers (NALC), but some postal unions have recently merged w/ larger primarily private sector unions | |||||
Because early on public wkrs did not have any unionization rights,
many public sector bargaining units:
- began as profl assoc - were involved in estbing standards - were involved in estbing occupational licensing requirements - lobbied for improved funding & facilities - began as civil service assocs - were involved in meeting & conferring w/ mgt |
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Some unions, like Ca State Employees Assoc (CSEA) are large enough o exercise pol influence through large blocks of voters | |||||
Assocs are most prevalent where laws forbid bargaining, but where legislative lobbying representing numerical strength is imp | |||||
Prof assoc are usually organized on occupational bases & have begun to bargain in response to unions who demand bargaining rather than the meet & confer tactic | |||||
Most nat unions, such as the Nat Ed Assoc (NEA) bargain at state & local levels organize along a fed model | |||||
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Because laws vary by state & even district, most bargaining by the NEA is done at local school board levels |
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Other state level services primarily involve lobbying & negotiating assistance | |||||
Public sector locals seldom need approval from the nat un for contract ratification & strikes | |||||
Membership in public sector unions increased in the 90s & 00s, while private sector union declined | |||||
About 40% of public sector wkrs are union members | |||||
Mgt resistance to unionization is lower in the public sector | |||||
Future unionization in the pub sect depends on the amt of growth of services in the pub sec, which declined in the Clinton admin, grew at unprecedented rates during the Bush Jr admin, & had significant declines during the Obama admin | |||||
While privatization has slowed the growth of the public sector, much reduction of fed level services has transferred to the state level, & the general trend is toward growth | |||||
Duty to bargain laws have the greatest effect in increasing pub sect unionization | |||||
Pub sect un have a strong interest in promoting soci programs, ed, municipal services, & uniformed protection because it increases employment & because these wkrs understand the efficacy of such growth | |||||
Pub sect un have success by linking bargaining issues /w the broader concerns of the public, such as smaller class sized & their relationship to ed outcomes, or the fact that the greatest asset to public safety is more police on the streets, or the type of welfare system that is needed to break the welfare cycle, or the effectiveness & ineffectiveness of proper & improper regulation of industry | |||||
Active support of candidates at the state & local level is a powerful tool for public sect unions | |||||
Pub sect unions support those candidates who are sympathetic to pub sect un interests, which is also helpful during negotiations |
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The Figure on
a Model of the Key Determinants of Union Organizational Structures demonstrates
the relationship btwn the orgl env, the orgl goals & how they should
dictate the nature of the org's strategies & structure (which should
"match each other"), all of which are the determinants of performance &
efficiency
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LOCAL UNION DEMOCRACY |
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Local union democracy has a quality similar to municipal politics |
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Elections generate moderate to low interest |
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In union elections, incumbents are usually reelected unless a critical issue is at hand/mishandled |
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Union locals have regular business meetings which are open to all members |
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Business meetings often have low attendance: equates w/ relative satisfaction |
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A contentious workplace may lead to suppression of dissent w/in union in order to maintain a united front |
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FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY |
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Functional democracy denotes that although an org may not have regular elections & other features of a democratic system, democracy is maintained through some democratic structures, but more importantly through a value commitment to democracy | |||||
W/ reference to democracy, unions do not typically have a party system |
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Unions must apply the contract equally to all workers as required by the Taft Hartley Act of 1947 | |||||
Union elections are every 3 yrs as required by the Landrum Griffin Act of 1959 | |||||
With reference to democracy, workers generally want representation not participation |
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Members do have the right to become involved & to offer alternative priorities or candidates | |||||
Union locals may be less democratic than municipal politics, but union members are probably less diverse & thus more satisfied w/ less democracy | |||||
MEASURING UNION DEMOCRACY: |
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Union democracy can be measured by measuring the degree of control
members have over SIX types of major decisions related to:
a. contracts b. contract administration c. service to members d. union administration e. political activities f. communities |
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There are FIVE types of control members have which can be used to measure
the level of democracy, including:
a. complete control b. limited control c. consultation control d. veto control e. or no control |
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DEMOCRACY IN PRACTICE |
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National unions are required by law to hold a convention at least every 5 yrs | |||||
Unions which elect executive board on geographic basis are less responsive to factions | |||||
At large elections results in leadership responsive to factions |
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Most leaders come up through the ranks | |||||
Less democratic appearing unions manage to exist because of a general consensus of ideas | |||||
EXAMPLES | |||||
Unions support democracy through the general support of programs that give people an effective voice in govt, community, region, & society in general | |||||
The CA Federation of Teachers developed a set of lesson plans for teaching about the role of trade unions in resolving wkplace conflicts | |||||
A large majority of people approve of unions, & the union image has increased since 1980 | |||||
Unions are taking active roles in other social mvmts & NGOs such as the United Way, NAACP, NOW, Greenpeace, & more | |||||
Unions support the increase of internal democracy in both unions & corps | |||||
A study of the International Typographical Union (ITU) revealed a strong & dynamic role of internal political parties in unions as long ago as the 1950s (Lipset, et al., 1956) | |||||
The Teamsters, who was connected to organized crime, has developed an internal group called the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) | |||||
The TDU has over 9,000 members in 35 chapters, publishes its own newspaper, runs an opposition slate of candidates at conventions, & holds 30 local elected offices (Friedman, 1982) | |||||
In the UAW, the New Directions Movement has fostered an internal debate over increasing union & corp democracy | |||||
Organizing campaigns using greater member participation are laying the groundwork for greater internal democracy in new & emerging unions |
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- AFL CIO Website: http://www.aflcio.org/ |
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The AFL had formed in 1869 as a federation of craft unions | |||||
The CIO had formed in 1935 as it broke away from the AFL to form the first industrial union | |||||
The AFL CIO is similar to a trade association, a chamber of commerce, or a national association of manufacturers | |||||
It coordinates activities among the Nationals & amplifies their voices | |||||
The federation of the AFL CIO's prime functions are information, integration, and advocacy | |||||
It's greatest areas of autonomy relate to legislative & political processes | |||||
NINE factors set the stage for the merger of the AFL & the CIO into the AFL CIO in 1955 |
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One of the factors that set the stage for the AFL CIO merger was that: | ||||
1. late in the 1940s there were strong economic conditions w/ higher wages & profits & living standards |
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2. mgt. & Labor were working for peaceful labor relations |
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3. in 1952, both William Green (AFL) & Philip Murray (CIO) died | |||||
4. successors to the AFL & the CIO, George Meany (AFL) & Walter Reuther (CIO) were able to close ranks as predecessors would have found impossible |
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5. in 1954 the new leaders of the AFL & CIO signed a no raid agreement |
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6. the declining growth of membership made Labor pull together |
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Unionization as a fraction of labor peaked in 56 at 1/3 | |||||
7. the passage of the 1947 Landrum Griffin Act |
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8. Labor corruption could be more easily dealt w/ if Labor pulled together | |||||
9. one of the urgent tasks facing the AFL CIO was the elimination of corrupt elements from the Labor Movement | |||||
A Brief History of the AFL CIO: | |||||
In the 1960s the AFL CIO supported the New Frontier & the Great Society domestic programs of presidents Kennedy & Johnson |
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The support of the AFL CIO contributed to legislative successes in civil rights, voting rights, housing, education, health & medical care, urban redevelopment, & poverty programs |
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But the AFL CIO failed to get section 14b of the Taft Hartley Act repealed |
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The AFL CIO opposed much of Nixon's agenda, especially his anti inflationary wage & price controls |
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Never the less, Labor was neutral in the Nixon - McGovern election of 1972, the first time that a Democratic candidate did not gain support & $$ from Labor |
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After the Nixon election & Watergate, the AFL CIO moved quickly for its reassertion of influence in the Democratic Party & of the impeachment of Nixon |
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In 1974 the AFL CIO had 13 mm members, w/ the two biggest unions being independent: the Teamsters & the UAW |
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While Labor had stabilized in the 1950s, by the mid 70s, the trend was one of decline | |||||
George Meany retired in 1979 & was succeeded by Lane Kirkland | |||||
Under Kirkland, the UAW which was disaffiliated in 1968, reaffiliated in 1981 | |||||
1982 is considered the Centennial Year of the AFL CIO | |||||
The Teamsters, who were ejected in 1957, were reaffiliated in 1987 | |||||
In 1994, Sweeney takes the Presidency & advocates more militancy | |||||
The Org Structure the AFL - CIO: | |||||
The AFL CIO merger did not change in any fundamental way the decentralized & essentially economic nature of the Labor Movement | |||||
The AFL CIO consists of about 100 national & international trade & industrial unions w/ a total membership of about 13 mm | |||||
The nationals are self governing, but cooperate w/ one another within the federation | |||||
Each national union has local union in the US & its territories | |||||
Each international unions also have local unions in Canada, Puerto Rico, & Panama | |||||
The national & international labor unions have more than 60,000 local unions | |||||
States & Local Central Bodies
AFL CIO interacts w/ 800 state and local central bodies These orgs are mostly political/lobbyists |
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All affiliated unions are entitled to representation at the AFL CIO's convention every two years | |||||
The convention is the supreme governing body | |||||
Delegates are appointed based on size of the national union from which they come | |||||
The delegates are elected or appointed according to the national's policy | |||||
Other delegates come from directly affiliated locals, state & city bodies, national industrial & trade dept. | |||||
The Convention elects the President, the Secretary Treasurer, and 33 vice Presidents who make up the Executive Council (ExCo) | |||||
The ExCo determines policy btwn conventions & carries out policies established by the convention | |||||
The AFL CIO has central bodies (federations) in all 50 states & Puerto Rico, and over 700 local central bodies | |||||
There are EIGHT trade & industrial depts. in the AFL CIO | |||||
a. Building & Construction
b. Industrial Union Trade c. Metal Trades d. Union Label & Service Trades e. Maritime Trade f. Food & Allied Service Trades g. Professional Employees h. Public Employees Depts |
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The AFL CIO constitution established committees & depts.
to deal w/
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The Activities & Policies of the AFL CIO: | |||||
Assists its unions in organizing work, legal assistance in court, represents affiliates in govt, & nongovt agency dealings | |||||
The AFL CIO does not itself engage in collective bargaining or issue strike calls (w/ minor exceptions) |
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This power resides, as it always has, in the autonomous national & international unions |
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Maintains research, information, & publicity services | |||||
Publishes an official magazine: The American Federationist, & a weekly paper, The AFL CIO News, & pamphlets & organizing information | |||||
In the legislative field, the AFL CIO works for enactment of desired legislation on the national & state levels | |||||
Immediately after the merger, the AFL CIO created a single political arm: The Committee on Political Education ( COPE ) | |||||
The AFL CIO re entered politics w/ $$ & person power in close alliance w/ the Democratic Party | |||||
In civic affairs, it promotes the activity of union members in such community projects as campaigns for voter registration, better schools, more hospitals, elimination of slums, & aid in combating juvenile delinquency | |||||
Internal Maintenance of the AFL - CIO: | |||||
The AFL CIO has a direct relationship w/ almost 800 state & local central bodies | |||||
These bodies reflect the composition of the parent AFL CIO and the particular industrial mix of their geographic areas | |||||
The state & local centrals are directly responsible to the AFL CIO, not to the internationals | |||||
The AFL CIO tries to resolve certain types of disputes among its member unions | |||||
The AFL CIO developed rules for unions to submit interunion disputes for mediation & adjudication | |||||
When they merged, the power of the AFL CIO did expand to include the authority to expel unions for corruption or domination by Communist, Fascists, or other totalitarian forces |
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The AFL CIO developed an Ethical Practices Code | |||||
The AFL CIO adopted a vigorous anti discrimination vow | |||||
The AFL CIO developed rules to avoid dominance by non democratic ideologies in any union | |||||
Policies of the AFL CIO: | |||||
Meany became the new President of the AFL CIO & re endorsed Gompers concept of "more" as it applied to the standard & quality of living | |||||
Meany reiterated the business unionism approach | |||||
Meany was unwilling to involve Labor in mgt & thereby forestalled in move toward employee participation, workplace democracy, etc. |
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- AFSCME Website http://www.afscme.org/ |
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AFSCME is the nation's largest & fastest growing public service employees union | |||||
In 2005, AFSCME has 1.4 mm members | |||||
AFSCME organizes for social & economic justice in the workplace & through political action & legislative advocacy | |||||
AFSCME is an industrial type union asserting jurisdiction over nonelected public employees outside the fed govt |
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AFSCME also organizes private, nonprofit public service orgs |
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AFSCME's President & Secretary Treasurer are elected at the biennial convention |
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There are also 31 international vice presidents elected from 24 legislative districts |
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At the national level are 63 regional councils responsible for coordinating bargaining & political activities among locals in their regions |
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AFSCME's unique structure is a result of TWO factors | |||||
a. AFSCME organizes under a variety of govt jurisdictions |
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b. AFSCME bargains under many different laws | |||||
Unlike most industrial unions, locals in AFSCME do not require the national's approval of their contract settlements or the decision to strike |
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All Locals affiliate w/ a regional council which are operated w/in jurisdictions relating to the bargaining laws associated w/ the occupations represented |
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AFSCME's national services include: research, legislative, legal, organizational, organizing, educating, public relations, etc. |
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AFSCME spends 10 to 33 % of its total budget on lobbying & other political activities |
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Since most members are in the public sector, influence on state legislators & county & municipal elected officials & administrators is very important |
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Job security issues are very important |
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AFSCME members become part of a local union (also called a local) consisting of the coworkers in an office, institution, dept or community | |||||
AFSCME has more than 3,500 local unions in 46 states, the District of Columbia & Puerto Rico | |||||
Each local writes its own constitution, holds regular membership meetings & elects its own officers & stewards | |||||
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Under federal law, union dues cannot be used directly to fund political candidates, although they may be used to support some state level candidates | |||||
AFSCME members have a voluntary, independent political organization called PEOPLE — Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality | |||||
PEOPLE is the union's political, legislative and fundraising arm | |||||
It is supported by voluntary donations by members & is one of the biggest political action committees in the nation | |||||
PEOPLE is run by AFSCME members who participate in committees at the local, state & national levels | |||||
PEOPLE committees raise funds & work to elect politicians responsive to the needs of public service & health care |
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- IAM Website: http://www.iamaw.org/ |
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The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) was estb in 1888 when 19 machinists met in a locomotive pit at Atlanta, GA, & voted to form a trade union | |||||
When the IAM was estb, machinists earn 20 to 25 cents an hour for a 10 hour day | |||||
The IAM affiliated w/ the AFL in 1895 |
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The IAM has expanded from machinists to include metal trades, railway employees, auto mechanics, airline workers, electronic workers, & aerospace workers |
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The IAM consists of several conferences & departments |
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There are several staff departments that provide services to the the National, the Locals, and members |
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The membership peaked at more than 1 mm in 1968 & is now about 700,000 |
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History of the IAM: | |||||
The IAM was estb in 1888 | |||||
In 1889, 34 locals are represented at the first machinists convention, held in Georgia State Senate Chamber. They elect Tom Talbot as Grand Master Machinist & a monthly journal is started | |||||
In 1890, the first Canadian local is chartered at Stratford, Ont. The union is named International Association of Machinists. They set up headquarters in Richmond, VA. Membership is at 4,000 | |||||
In 1891, IAM Local 145 asks $3 for a 10 hour day | |||||
In 1892, the first railroad agreement is signed w/ Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe RR | |||||
In 1895, the IAM joins the American Federation of Labor (AFL), & moves their headquarters to Chicago | |||||
In 1898, IAM Local 52, Pittsburgh, conducts the first successful strike for 9 hour day | |||||
In 1899, time & a half for overtime becomes prevalent & IAM moves it's headquarters to Washington, DC | |||||
In 1903, specialists are admitted to the membership & the drive begins for the 8 hour day | |||||
In 1905, apprentices are admitted to membership. There are 769 locals. Railroad machinists earn 36 to 43 cents an hour for 9 hour day | |||||
In 1911, women are admitted to the membership w/ equal rights | |||||
In 1948, IAM membership opened to all regardless of race or color. The IAM convention endorses Harry Truman for President | |||||
In 1964, IAM convention endorses LBJ for President, after a personal appearance. Delegates vote to change name to International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers. Membership at 800,000 | |||||
In 2004, the IAM Executive Council marches with thousands of trade unionists in Miami to protest Free Trade Area of the Americas | |||||
Vice presidential candidate Senator John Edwards from North Carolina appears at an IAM convention rally after a unanimous endorsement of Senator John Kerry & Senator Edwards by the delegate | |||||
The Goals of the IAM: | |||||
- achieve cost of living raises so that wage rates rise w/ living costs | |||||
- increase purchasing power to provide a higher standard of living | |||||
- achieve paid sick leave & life insurance for workers; employer paid hospital, medical, dental & eye care benefits for workers and their families | |||||
- establish equal pay for equal work regardless of sex, race, or national origin | |||||
- create a safe, healthy workplace | |||||
- establish a shorter work week with double time for voluntary overtime | |||||
- restrict subcontracting. | |||||
- establish employer paid insurance for worn, broken, or stolen tools | |||||
- open a joint apprentice training and retraining on the job | |||||
- make pensions portable w/ optional early retirement benefits | |||||
- make severance pay & supplemental unemployment benefits the norm | |||||
- establish union shop |
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- IUOE Website: http://www.iuoe.org/index.asp |
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IUOE stands for the International Union of Operating Engineers |
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The IUOE is a progressive, diversified trade union that primarily represents operating engineers, who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, & surveyors in the construction industry, & stationary engineers, who work in operations & maintenance in bldg & industrial complexes, & in the service industries | |||||
The IUOE also represents nurses & other health industry wkrs as well as significant numbers of public employees engaged in a wide variety of occupations | |||||
The IUOE primarily represents heavy equipment operators, mechanics, & surveyors in the construction industry |
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The IUOE also represents stationary engineers operating equipment in building & industrial complexes | |||||
The IUOE also represents health care workers & public employees |
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There are about 170 locals in the US & Canada |
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Most locals cover large geographical areas |
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The IUOE has about 400,000 members & is the 12th largest union in the AFL CIO |
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Most union services are provided at the local level through nearly 100 joint union employer apprenticeship programs |
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The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the fed govt's top investigative agency, has released a report confirming the existence of serious problems in nonunion apprenticeship programs, & in the Department of Labor's mgt of the nation’s apprenticeship system | |||||
As an integral part of IUOE's commitment to provide highly skilled heavy equipment operators & stationary/facilities engineers to the construction, stationary & envl industries, the IUOE developed & implemented comprehensive training programs that are widely recognized as the best in those industries | |||||
The IUOE has cooperative working agreements w/ the US Depart of Energy to administer & operate the nation’s foremost hazardous materials (HAZMAT) training program & the International Environmental Technology and Training Center, both located at the IUOE National Hazmat Project in Beckley, WV | |||||
The IUOE also participates in the Job Corps program, a training program for young people, age 16 - 24 | |||||
The IUOE has training agreements w/ the US Depts of Labor & Agriculture to administer & operate pre apprenticeship training programs at various Job Corps training centers throughout the US |
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- Project: The Teamsters Strategy & Corruption |
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- Video: Jimmy Hoffa: The Man Behind the Mystery A & E Biography 50 min 1993 |
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- Teamsters Website: http://www.teamster.org/ |
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The Teamsters were chartered by the AFL in 1899 as the Team Drivers' Union |
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The groups split into two unions, which reunited at Niagra Fall, NY, in 1903, the official date of the founding of the Teamsters Union |
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The union grew rapidly under presidents David Beck & James Hoffa in the 1950s & 1960s |
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The Teamsters are the largest labor union in the US w/ 1.66 mm members | |||||
The Teamsters are organized into 800 locals | |||||
THE TEAMSTERS ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR AGGRESSIVE ORGANIZING STRAT: A. ORGANIZE MANY TRADES & IND; B. AGGRESSIVE FOCUS ON RAISING WAGES; C. ESTB AFFILIATIONS W/ OTHER CONSTITUENCIES | |||||
a. The Teamsters organize the many trades & industries,
including:
- truck drivers - garage & service station workers - dairy workers - food processing workers - brewery workers - people who work w/ autos - chauffeurs - soft drink workers - industrial workers - airline workers - warehouse workers - public service employees - auto salespeople - & more |
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b. The Teamsters generally go w/ their strength of raising wages, knowing this only satisfies workers for a while | |||||
c. The membership drives can be based on "revolving door:" or peripheral affiliations outside of the core constituencies | |||||
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THE POSITIVES & NEGATIVES TO THE TEAMSTERS AGG ORG STRAT ARE ( + ) RAISING WAGES; FULL SERVICES; & ( - ) NOT RESPONSIVE TO WKRS; WKRS EXPECT INCREASING WAGES & THEN IMPROVEMENT ON OTHER ISSUES; DECERTIFICATION DRIVES |
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1. The aggressive organizing strategy is positive for workers because Teamsters are good at raising wages |
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2. The Teamsters' membership drives can be based on full services: meeting all needs | |||||
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3. The aggressive organizing strategy is negative for workers because they are not responsive to worker input |
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4. Wkrs get used to higher wages; then want to move on to other issues but the Teamsters are not responsive, so they decertify them |
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5. Teamster unions are often the subject of decertification drives |
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CORRUPTION IN THE TEAMSTERS HAD DELEGITIMIZED THEM TO THE WIDER PUBLIC |
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The ultimate effect of the Teamsters' corruption, of corruption of unions in general, is to discredit the Labor Mvmt, thus justifying the corporate position of anti unionism | |||||
The Teamsters were expelled from the AFL CIO in 1957 due to corruption & was reaffiliated in 1987 after they had reformed |
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See Also: Corruption in the Labor Movement | |||||
The Teamsters are well known for its alleged corruption & its leadership by the Hoffas | |||||
Under examination by the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field of 1957, the Teamsters took the lion's share of the accusations | |||||
The Senate Select Committee was chaired by John McClellan of AR, w/ other significant members such as JFK & Barry Goldwater | |||||
JFK & Bobby Kennedy continued to lock horns w/ the Teamsters, & rumors have circulated that there may be some connection to JFK's assassination | |||||
There were FIVE types of corruption engaged in by the Teamsters:
a. reprisal violence b. financial manipulation c. repression of members' democratic rights d. racketeering e. sweetheart contracts: substandard benefits |
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Dave Beck had converted union funds to his own use, borrowed money from employers, & received kickbacks from labor "consultants" | |||||
Jimmy Hoffa was accused of breaking Teamster strikes & covertly running his own trucking operation | |||||
"Sweetheart" contracts w/ substandard benefits & guaranteeing labor peace were uncovered in the NY area Teamster locals operated by racketeers | |||||
All this has led Teamsters to support Republican Presidential candidates | |||||
In 1989, the Teamsters & the Dept. of Justice reached an out of court settlement of a federal racketeering lawsuit that was filed against the union |
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Some Teamster official had long been suspected of being tied to organized crime |
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The agreement changed election procedures to enable union members to vote directly for top union officials |
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Previously, these officers were elected by delegates to the union's international convention |
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The agreement also called for creation of a three member board to oversee union activities |
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One member would be appointed by the US Attorney General, one by the Teamsters, & another by mutual consent of both |
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In 1998, even after the govt oversight the Teamsters were found guilty of financial malfeasance |
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Teamsters President Ron Carey was seen as the clean-up man of the Teamsters after its govt oversight | |||||
Carey was found guilty of laundering in his re-election $$ in 1997 (under appeal) |
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Carey was barred from holding office | |||||
In 1993-95, the Teamsters were found guilty under fed law of 104 cases of embezzlement |
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Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. is now President |
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- Project: Solidarity & Democratic Movements |
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- Solidarity's Website: http://www.solidarnosc.org.pl/ |
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Introduction: Solidarity, an organization of trade unions, helped bring about free elections in Poland & the establishment of a non Communist govt | |||||
In the 1960s, Polish intellectuals protested against govt limits on freedom of expression, & new disputes erupted between the govt & the Catholic Church | |||||
In 1970, strikes & riots broke out in Gdansk & other cities, & Gdansk was a center of protest against the Communist govt in Poland | |||||
Thousands of Poles demanded better living conditions & econ & political reforms | |||||
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After days of riots, Gomulka resigned, & Edward Gierek became the Communist Party leader |
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Gierek's leadership brought better relations between the govt & the Catholic Church |
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Although Poland remained a loyal ally of the Soviet Union, its govt took steps during the 1970s to improve relations with non Communist countries |
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In 1978, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, a Polish cardinal & the archbishop of Krakow, was elected pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name John Paul the II |
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Wojtyla became the first Polish pope in history & the first non Italian pope since 1523 & he called on Poland's govt to allow greater freedom to its people |
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Poland struggled w/ high prices & shortages of food & consumer goods | |||||
In 1976, Poles rioted after the govt announced big increases in food prices so the govt then deferred the increase | |||||
Econ conditions worsened in Poland in the late 1970s | |||||
In 1980, strikes in Gdansk & other cities led to the creation of Solidarity, an organization of trade unions | |||||
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During the summer of 1980, thousands of workers in Gdansk & other cities went on strike |
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Strikers demanded higher pay, free trade unions, & political reforms & the Communist leaders promised to meet many of the demands |
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In September, the Central Committee forced Gierek to resign & elected Stanislaw Kania to replace him |
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In November, the Polish govt recognized Solidarity, an org of free trade unions |
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This was the first time a Communist country recognized a labor org that was independent of the Communist Party |
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Lech Walesa headed Solidarity |
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In 1980, Walesa was chosen as provisional head of Solidarity, an org composed of about 50 Polish trade unions |
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Walesa's negotiations w/ Poland's govt that year led to the recognition of Solidarity |
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Walesa was elected chairman of Solidarity in 1981 |
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The Polish labor mvmt faced growing hostility from Poland's Communist Party & the Soviet Union |
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In December 1981, Poland's govt established martial law & suspended Solidarity's activities |
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In December 1981, Jaruzelski became Poland's leader when he was elected head of the country's Communist Party in 1981 & was the top leader of Poland from 1981 to 1989 | |||||
Jaruzelski faced econ problems & protests against the Communist Party's political monopoly so he established martial law in an effort to restore order | |||||
The Jaruzelski administration established strict controls over the lives of the Polish people | |||||
It outlawed independent social orgs such as Solidarity, a free labor union led by Lech Walesa | |||||
Walesa & hundreds of other union leaders were imprisoned | |||||
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In Oct 1982, the govt outlawed Solidarity & Walesa was released in Nov & the other prisoners were freed over the next several years |
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Martial law was officially ended in 1983 but the govt kept many controls over freedom | |||||
In 1989, the govt reached an agreement w/ Solidarity that led to the legalization of the union & to changes in the structure of the govt | |||||
It also allowed the freest elections to Parliament since the country became a Communist state in 1945 | |||||
In the elections, non Communist candidates backed by Solidarity had the greatest success | |||||
Almost every candidate who was endorsed by Walesa & Solidarity won a seat in Parliament | |||||
In June 1990, Solidarity split into several groups & Walesa won a runoff election & became Poland's president from 1990 to 1995 | |||||
After the election, Walesa resigned as head of Solidarity | |||||
In 1997 elections, Solidarity won the most seats in parliament & defeated the former Communists who had been in control | |||||
Solidarity formed a new coalition govt with the Freedom Union | |||||
Also in 1997, the country's new constitution went into effect | |||||
In 1999, Poland became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance of Western nations | |||||
In 2000, Kwasniewski was reelected president | |||||
Poland's most important political orgs include the Democratic Left Alliance, the Freedom Union, the Polish Peasant Party, & Solidarity Electoral Action | |||||
The Freedom Union & Solidarity Electoral Action favor a free enterprise econ | |||||
Solidarity Electoral Action is the political arm of Solidarity, which is an org of trade unions | |||||
The Democratic Left Alliance is a Communist party, & its members are in favor of more govt control of the economy | |||||
The members of the Polish Peasant Party want agricultural reform to aid small landowners, and they think Poland should slow its move to a free enterprise econ |
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