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Labor Minute

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United Faculty of Florida-FSU

Labor Minute broadcast each Wednesday at 10:04 am on 88.9 WFSU-FM. Sponsored by the United Faculty of Florida, Labor Minute shares stories of the American Labor movement, including the challenges and success of American workers. Labor Minute is also sponsored in part by the Florida AFL-CIO and the Big Bend Labor Chapter.

Featured Sponsor: United Faculty of Florida-FSU

If you have a question, please email minutes@wfsu.org. Please reference Labor Minute in the subject line of your message.

Question Archive

Are there unions in Florida?June 10, 2026
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Do Americans like unions?June 3, 2026
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 27, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
What is a labor union?May 20, 2026
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?May 13, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?May 6, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 29, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?April 22, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?April 15, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?April 8, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?April 1, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?March 25, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?March 18, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?March 11, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?March 4, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?February 25, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?February 18, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is solidarity action?February 11, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?February 4, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?January 28, 2026
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 21, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?January 14, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?January 7, 2026
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 31, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?December 24, 2025
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?December 17, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Roges
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?December 10, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?December 3, 2025
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?November 26, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?November 19, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?November 12, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?November 5, 2025
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 29, 2025
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?October 22, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?October 15, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?October 8, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyOctober 1, 2025
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?September 24, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?September 17, 2025
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?September 10, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 3, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are right-to-work laws?August 27, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?August 20, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want? (Gender Wage Gap)August 13, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to pay checks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences in earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which side are you on?August 6, 2025
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 30, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?July 23, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?July 16, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?July 9, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?July 2, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?June 25, 2025
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?June 18, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?June 11, 2025
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?June 4, 2025
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 28, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?May 21, 2025
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?May 14, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?May 7, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 30, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?April 23, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?April 16, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?April 9, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?April 2, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?March 26, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?March 19, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?March 12, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?March 5, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?February 26, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?February 19, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is solidarity action?February 12, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?February 5, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?January 29, 2025
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 22, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?January 15, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?January 8, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?January 1, 2025
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?December 25, 2024
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?December 18, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?December 11, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?December 4, 2024
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?November 27, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?November 20, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?November 13, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?November 6, 2024
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 30, 2024
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?October 23, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?October 16, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?October 9, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyOctober 2, 2024
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?September 25, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?September 18, 2024
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?September 11, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 4, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are right-to-work laws?August 28, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?August 21, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want? (Gender Wage Gap)August 14, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to pay checks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences in earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which side are you on?August 7, 2024
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 31, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?July 24, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?July 17, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?July 10, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?July 3, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?June 26, 2024
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?June 19, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?June 12, 2024
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?June 5, 2024
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 29, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?May 22, 2024
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?May 15, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?May 8, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?May 1, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 24, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?April 17, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?April 10, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?April 3, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 27, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?March 20, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?March 13, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?March 6, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?February 28, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?February 21, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?February 14, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is solidarity action?February 7, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?January 31, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?January 24, 2024
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 17, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?January 10, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?January 3, 2024
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 27, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?December 20, 2023
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?December 13, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?December 6, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?November 29, 2023
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?November 22, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?November 15, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?November 8, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?November 1, 2023
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 25, 2023
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?October 18, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?October 11, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?October 4, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckySeptember 27, 2023
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?September 20, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?September 13, 2023
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 6, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?August 30, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are right-to-work laws?August 23, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?August 16, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want? (Gender Wage Gap)August 9, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to pay checks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences in earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which side are you on?August 2, 2023
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 26, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?July 19, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?July 12, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?July 5, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?June 28, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?June 21, 2023
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?June 14, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?June 7, 2023
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 31, 2023
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 24, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?May 17, 2023
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?May 10, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?May 3, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?April 26, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 19, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?April 12, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?April 5, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?March 29, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 22, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?March 15, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?March 8, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?March 1, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?February 22, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?February 15, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?February 8, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is solidarity action?February 1, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?January 25, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 18, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?January 11, 2023
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?January 4, 2023
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?December 28, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 21, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?December 14, 2022
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?December 7, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 30, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?November 23, 2022
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?November 16, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?November 9, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?November 2, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?October 26, 2022
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 19, 2022
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?October 12, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?October 5, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?September 28, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckySeptember 21, 2022
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?September 14, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 7, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 31, 2022
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?August 24, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are right-to-work laws?August 17, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?August 10, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want? (Gender Wage Gap)August 3, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to pay checks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences in earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which side are you on?July 27, 2022
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 20, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?July 13, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?July 6, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 29, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?June 22, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?June 15, 2022
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?June 8, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?June 1, 2022
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 25, 2022
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 18, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?May 11, 2022
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?May 4, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 27, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?April 20, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 13, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?April 7, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?April 6, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?March 30, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?March 23, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 16, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?March 9, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?March 2, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 23, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis but, why was he there?February 16, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?February 9, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?February 2, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is solidarity action?January 26, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 19, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?January 12, 2022
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?January 5, 2022
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 29, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?December 22, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 15, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?December 8, 2021
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?December 1, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 24, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?November 17, 2021
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?November 10, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?November 3, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?October 20, 2021
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 13, 2021
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 7, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?October 6, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?September 29, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?September 22, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckySeptember 15, 2021
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 8, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?September 1, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 25, 2021
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?August 18, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are right-to-work laws?August 11, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?August 4, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want? (Gender Wage Gap)July 28, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to pay checks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences in earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which side are you on?July 21, 2021
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 14, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?July 7, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 30, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 23, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?June 16, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?June 9, 2021
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?June 2, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 26, 2021
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 19, 2021
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 12, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?May 5, 2021
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 28, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 21, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?April 14, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 7, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?March 31, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?March 24, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?March 17, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 10, 2021
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?March 3, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 24, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 17, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?February 10, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?February 3, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?January 27, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 20, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is solidarity action?January 13, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?January 6, 2021
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 30, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 23, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?December 16, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 9, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?December 2, 2020
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?November 25, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Labor Minute
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 18, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?November 11, 2020
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?November 4, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?October 28, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 21, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?October 14, 2020
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 7, 2020
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?September 30, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?September 23, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 16, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?September 9, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckySeptember 2, 2020
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?August 26, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 19, 2020
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?August 12, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are right-to-work laws?August 5, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?July 29, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want?July 22, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to paychecks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences and earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
Which side are you on?July 15, 2020
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 8, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?July 1, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 24, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 17, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?June 10, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?June 3, 2020
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?May 27, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 20, 2020
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 13, 2020
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 6, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?April 29, 2020
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 22, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 15, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?April 8, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 1, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?March 25, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?March 18, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?March 11, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 4, 2020
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?February 26, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 19, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 12, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?February 5, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?January 29, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?January 22, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him the most?January 15, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is solidarity action?January 8, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?January 1, 2020
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 25, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 18, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?December 11, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 4, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?November 27, 2019
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?November 20, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 13, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?November 6, 2019
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?October 30, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?October 23, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 16, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?October 9, 2019
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 2, 2019
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?September 25, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?September 18, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What’s the significance of Labor Day?September 11, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University. On the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race or nation, but rather a movement. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?September 4, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyAugust 28, 2019
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?August 21, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 14, 2019
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?August 7, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are right-to-work laws?July 31, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?July 24, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want? (Gender Wage Gap)July 17, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to pay checks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences in earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which side are you on?July 10, 2019
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 3, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who were The Wobblies?June 26, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University, on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. The IWW members believe in workplace democracy, where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 19, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 12, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?June 5, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?May 29, 2019
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?May 22, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 15, 2019
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 8, 2019
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 1, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 24, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 17, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?April 10, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?April 3, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?March 27, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?March 20, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?March 13, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 6, 2019
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?February 27, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 20, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 13, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?February 6, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People’s Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?January 30, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working every day?January 23, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, what social problems concerned him most?January 16, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is solidarity action?January 9, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?January 2, 2019
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 26, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 19, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow dog contract?December 12, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching until the 1960s. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?December 5, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?November 28, 2018
Written By : Tom Wazlevek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?November 21, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 14, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effects have unions had on professional theater?November 7, 2018
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably, and today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Harold Rome like sing me a song with social significance and not cricket to pick it, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?October 31, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?October 24, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 17, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?October 10, 2018
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?October 3, 2018
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?September 26, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America’s first national labor leader?September 19, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teresa Amar-Greybin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful national labor federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. The leader of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU, content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What's the significance of Labor Day?September 12, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week, for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages, and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to union square. This rally held on September 5, 1882, was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race, or nation, but rather a movement. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org. Slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected?September 5, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyAugust 29, 2018
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script?August 22, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song's 16 tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard number one by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition, prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mine workers. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 15, 2018
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?August 8, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are right-to-work laws?August 1, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership, while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union. But unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and nonmembers alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed on the basis of the work. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but, what does it really mean?July 25, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want?July 18, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to paychecks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences and earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
Which side are you on?July 11, 2018
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960's have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?July 4, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was and effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steelworkers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and insured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962, $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule. The United Steelworkers Union's United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who are The Wobblies?June 27, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, who are the wobblies? This was the nickname of the industrial workers of the world founded in 1905 by legendary labor leaders including Big Bill Haywood and Mother Jones as an alternative to the American Federation of Labor or AFL which they considered too conservative. IWW members believe in workplace democracy where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African-Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers' frustrations with an element of humor.
Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 20, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones immigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton, Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 13, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?June 6, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is “work-to-rule”?May 30, 2018
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which workers perform all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but cease to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in the contract they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform. Listen to archives of Labor Minant at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minant is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?May 23, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 16, 2018
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 9, 2018
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?May 2, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?April 25, 2018
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 18, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 11, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?April 4, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What inspired the New York Working Women’s’ Protective Union?March 28, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Terez Samargraibin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what inspired the New York Working Women's protective union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to infranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's protective union. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a “practical blue-stocking”?March 21, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women’s literacy and labor unions?March 14, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Terez Sam McGrady and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Ro Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Bryn Mar Summer School for Women Workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor Magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Listen to archives of labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory Fire?March 7, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?February 28, 2018
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?February 21, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 14, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 7, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Most of us know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, but why was he there?January 31, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Despite their 60-hour weeks, almost half of these African-American workers were so poor that they qualified for welfare benefits and many relied on food stamps to feed their families. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb wanted to cut public job costs to reduce his operating deficit, so he tried to force sanitation workers to do more for less pay. He refused to recognize the union because he believed that public employees had no right to collective bargaining. Dr. King, however, believed otherwise, and he called for a general strike in support of the sanitation workers. Dr. King's last speech in which he famously prophesied that he might not get to the promised land was to bolster these striking workers who, 12 days after King's death, finally received a wage increase and the union rights they had been demanding. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?January 24, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working everyday?January 17, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, "What social problems concerned him the most?"January 10, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is solidarity action?January 3, 2018
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?December 27, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 20, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 13, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow-dog contract?December 6, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching, until the 1960s. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
Who was Norma Rae?November 29, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?November 22, 2017
Hosted By : Tom Wazlavek
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?November 15, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 8, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?November 1, 2017
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?October 25, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?October 18, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 11, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?October 4, 2017
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?September 27, 2017
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?September 20, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America's first national labor leader?September 13, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Mergraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful National Labor Federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org, slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What is the significance of Labor Day?September 6, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-andfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages, and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race, or nation, but rather a movement.
What are the benefits of academic freedom, and why is it protected?August 30, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyAugust 23, 2017
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Sixteen TonsAugust 16, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song 16 Tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard No. 1 by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mineworkers.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 9, 2017
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?August 2, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are "right-to-work" laws?July 26, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are right to work laws? Although the phrase right to work might suggest a guaranteed job, these laws have nothing to do with employment per se. Rather, they prohibit employers and unionized workers from negotiating any agreement that requires workers who benefit from the union contract to pay their share of the costs. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union, but unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and non-members alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed unequally. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher.
You may have heard the term "union wage premium" but what does it really mean?July 19, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want?July 12, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic & Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to paychecks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences and earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
Which side are you on?July 5, 2017
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Porffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run?June 28, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Samberg-Rabin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was an effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steel Workers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and ensured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962 to $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule.
Who are the "Wobblies"?June 21, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, who are the wobblies? This was the nickname of the industrial workers of the world founded in 1905 by legendary labor leaders including Big Bill Haywood and Mother Jones as an alternative to the American Federation of Labor or AFL which they considered too conservative. IWW members believe in workplace democracy where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers frustrations with an element of humor. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
Mother Jones - Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 14, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones emigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education, then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 7, 2017
Written By : Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?May 31, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is "work-to-rule"?May 24, 2017
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-nfsu.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which work has performed all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but ceased to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities, or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in their contract, they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?May 17, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 10, 2017
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?May 3, 2017
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?April 26, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?April 19, 2017
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 12, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 5, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?March 29, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the New York Women Workers' Protective Union?March 22, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tarez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what inspired the New York Working Women's Protective Union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to enfranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's Protective Union. Submit a question for Labor Minute at www.fsu.org. Slash Labor Minute Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a practical blue-stocking?March 15, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions?March 8, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Terez Sam Regraibin and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Roe Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Brin Mar summer school for women workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not on WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory fire?March 1, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?February 22, 2017
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?February 15, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 8, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 1, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?January 18, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working everyday?January 11, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, "What social problems concerned him the most?"January 4, 2017
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is solidarity action?December 28, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?December 21, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 14, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 7, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow-dog contract?November 30, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching, until the 1960s. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
Who was Norma Rae?November 23, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?November 16, 2016
Hosted By : Tom Wazlavek
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?November 9, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 2, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?October 26, 2016
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?October 19, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?October 12, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 5, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?September 28, 2016
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?September 21, 2016
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?September 14, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America's first national labor leader?September 7, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Mergraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful National Labor Federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org, slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What is the significance of Labor Day?August 31, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-andfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages, and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race, or nation, but rather a movement.
What are the benefits of academic freedom, and why is it protected?August 24, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyAugust 17, 2016
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Sixteen TonsAugust 10, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song 16 Tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard No. 1 by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mineworkers.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 3, 2016
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?July 27, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are "right-to-work" laws?July 20, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are right to work laws? Although the phrase right to work might suggest a guaranteed job, these laws have nothing to do with employment per se. Rather, they prohibit employers and unionized workers from negotiating any agreement that requires workers who benefit from the union contract to pay their share of the costs. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union, but unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and non-members alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed unequally. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher.
You may have heard the term "Union Wage Premium," but what does it really mean? July 13, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want?July 6, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to paychecks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences and earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
Which Side Are You On?June 29, 2016
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout and home run?June 22, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Samberg-Rabin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was an effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steel Workers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and ensured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962 to $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule.
Who are the "Wobblies"?June 15, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, who are the wobblies? This was the nickname of the industrial workers of the world founded in 1905 by legendary labor leaders including Big Bill Haywood and Mother Jones as an alternative to the American Federation of Labor or AFL which they considered too conservative. IWW members believe in workplace democracy where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers frustrations with an element of humor. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
Mother Jones - Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 8, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones emigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education, then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 1, 2016
Written By : Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?May 26, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is Work to Rule?May 18, 2016
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-nfsu.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which work has performed all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but ceased to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities, or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in their contract, they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?May 11, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 4, 2016
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?April 27, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?April 20, 2016
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 13, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 6, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?March 30, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the New York Women Workers' Protective Union?March 23, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tarez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what inspired the New York Working Women's Protective Union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to enfranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's Protective Union. Submit a question for Labor Minute at www.fsu.org. Slash Labor Minute Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a practical blue-stocking?March 16, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions?March 9, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Terez Sam Regraibin and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Roe Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Brin Mar summer school for women workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not on WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory fire?March 2, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?February 24, 2016
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?February 17, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 10, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 3, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?January 20, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working everyday?January 13, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, "What social problems concerned him the most?"January 6, 2016
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is solidarity action?December 30, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?December 23, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 16, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?December 9, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a yellow-dog contract?December 2, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching, until the 1960s. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
Who was Norma Rae?November 25, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?November 18, 2015
Hosted By : Tom Wazlavek
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?November 11, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who was Joe Hill?November 4, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?October 28, 2015
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?October 21, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?October 14, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 7, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?September 30, 2015
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?September 23, 2015
Hosted By : Tom Wazlavek
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?September 16, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America's first national labor leader?September 9, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Mergraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful National Labor Federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org, slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What is the significance of Labor Day?September 2, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-andfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages, and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race, or nation, but rather a movement.
What are the benefits of academic freedom, and why is it protected?August 26, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyAugust 19, 2015
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Sixteen TonsAugust 12, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song 16 Tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard No. 1 by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mineworkers.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?August 5, 2015
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What is collective bargaining?July 29, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What are "right-to-work" laws?July 22, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are right to work laws? Although the phrase right to work might suggest a guaranteed job, these laws have nothing to do with employment per se. Rather, they prohibit employers and unionized workers from negotiating any agreement that requires workers who benefit from the union contract to pay their share of the costs. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union, but unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and non-members alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed unequally. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher.
You may have heard the term "Union Wage Premium," but what does it really mean? July 15, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What do women want?July 8, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to paychecks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences and earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
Which Side Are You On?July 1, 2015
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout and home run?June 24, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Samberg-Rabin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was an effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steel Workers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and ensured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962 to $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule.
Who are the "Wobblies"?June 17, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, who are the wobblies? This was the nickname of the industrial workers of the world founded in 1905 by legendary labor leaders including Big Bill Haywood and Mother Jones as an alternative to the American Federation of Labor or AFL which they considered too conservative. IWW members believe in workplace democracy where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers frustrations with an element of humor. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
Mother Jones - Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 10, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones emigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education, then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?June 3, 2015
Written By : Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?May 27, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is Work to Rule?May 20, 2015
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-nfsu.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which work has performed all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but ceased to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities, or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in their contract, they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?May 13, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
Are there unions in Florida?May 6, 2015
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do Americans like unions?April 29, 2015
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?April 22, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is a labor union?April 15, 2015
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What was the most successful labor strike in history?April 8, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Mill owners cut employees pay. Workers lived in poverty with a child mortality rate of 50% by age 6, but 20,000 of them bravely walked out of nearly every million town and refused to return. Many assumed that these laborers, mostly women and almost entirely immigrants, could not be organized, but their strike held, even when mill owners turned firehoses on the picketers midwinter and the governor had protesters arrested. Desperate workers sent their children to live with supporters. Americans were shocked by the shabbly-dressed, hungry children flooding into Grand Central Station. President Taft called for congressional investigations. Fearing more negative publicity, mill owners granted the 15% pay raise workers demanded. Textile companies throughout New England followed suit, offering raises of up to 20%. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was Arturo Giovannitti?April 1, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Also known as the bread and roses strike, perhaps the most successful labor action in history. The industrial workers of the world, some in Geoveneti to Lawrence, primarily to speak with the mostly Italian-American mill workers in their native language, but his poetic talent also proved useful. Mimicking Jesus' Beatitudes, Geoveneti inspired the beleaguered strikers, saying, Blessed are the rebels, for they shall reconquer the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after equality, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. Blessed are the strong, for they shall not taste the bitterness of pity. Blessed are they that do battle against wrong, for they shall be called the children of liberty. Geoveneti's eloquent words and his subsequent arrest drew nationwide attention to working conditions in Lawrence and helped improve the lives of mill workers throughout New England. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What effect have unions had on professional theater?March 25, 2015
Hosted By : Michael Buchler
Written By : Michael Buchler
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Michael Buckler and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, what effect have unions had on professional theater? The world of Broadway, as we know, it wouldn't exist without unions, responding to early abuses, actors, musicians, and stage hands organized to make sure they were paid a fair wage and treated equitably. And today they enjoy higher rates of union protection than workers in many other industries. But unions have not only made an appearance backstage or in the orchestra pit. In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union staged its own show, cast with members of their own union. Expected to be a flop, pins and needles was a surprise hit, running for nearly four years with more than a thousand performances. The show was continually updated to weave in the latest national and international labor developments and to satirize a front to working people. Humorous Pearl Labor Songs by Herald Room like Sing Me a Song with Social Significance and Not Cricket to Pick It, not only entertained but also raised awareness of the union movement's growing role in helping America recover from the Great Depression. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-su. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-su.
How have unions helped to reduce income inequality?March 18, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week we ask how have unions helped reduce income inequality. You've probably heard reports about the expanding portion of income going to the very rich. The Economic Policy Institute recently showed a striking inverse correlation over the last century between union membership and the share of income going to top earners. For instance, when union membership in America peaked in the 1940s and 50s, the top 10% garnered just over 30% of all income. As union membership has declined since about 1960, the share of income going to the top 10% of earners has steadily risen, reaching its highest level, 47.8% in 2014. According to the study's authors, labor unions not only helped sustain prosperity, but were also responsible for other disparity reducing outcomes. For example, by raising the wage floor for everyone unionized or not, unions ensured that prosperity was broadly shared. Unions have also effectively moderated executive compensation at unionized companies.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?March 11, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are the benefits of academic freedom, and why is it protected?March 4, 2015
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Charest Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are the benefits of academic freedom and why is it protected? Academic freedom is generally understood as a scholar's right to provide educational experiences and educational materials that promote the values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives that are free from indoctrination. Specifically in academic contexts, at all levels of education, and without fear of penalty, repression, or job loss. While the United States Supreme Court recognizes academic freedom as a First Amendment right, it was established as a professional standard primarily through the Association of American University Professors' 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom in tenure. Some policies argue that protecting academic freedom enhances the integrity of teachers and students, while others argue that it ensures the quality of degree programs and the longevity of academic disciplines. Professors, administrators, politicians, and others have argued that protecting scholars and students right to critical inquiry is significant not only for knowledge production, but also for improving conditions surrounding academic labor. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Joe Hill?February 25, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, we ask, who was Joe Hill? Born in Sweden, Hill immigrated to the United States, where in 1910, he joined the most robust labor union at that time, the industrial workers of the world. He traveled the west, organizing workers and writing political songs, most famously the lyrics, you'll get pie in the sky when you die. In 1914, he was convicted of what many believe was a tenuous murder charge. His execution the following year galvanized the labor movement, which took to heart his final instruction not to mourn, but to organize. Trubador Joe Hill has himself been immortalized in song, most famously in, I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, written in the 1930s and publicly performed as recently as last May, when Bruce Springsteen opened his Tampa concert with it. The song concludes with these words, from San Diego up to Maine in every mine and mill, where working folks defend their rights, it's there you'll find Joe Hill.
What was the Colored National Labor Union?February 18, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the colored National Labor Union? Founded in 1869 when the National Labor Union refused to integrate, the colored National Labor Union, or CNLU, was an attempt by African-American laborers to further their interests through collective bargaining with employers. According to its Constitution, the new organization's official name was simply the National Labor Union. The word colored was apparently added by the media. From its outset, the CNLU welcomed all workers regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, or occupation. Its powerful slogan, an injury to one is a concern for all, was adopted and paraphrased by many later unions. On multiple occasions, the CNLU petitioned Congress to improve, or at least investigate, conditions for African-American laborers in the south. Despite these efforts, there was little significant progress until the eve of World War 2, when the National War Labor Board abolished pay differentials based on race. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Isaac Myers?February 11, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Isaac Myers? Like most African Americans in 1835 Baltimore, Myers was born free in a slave state that barred him from public education, apprenticed at 16 to a prominent black ship cocker by age 20 he supervised the caulking of clipper ships operating out of Baltimore. Shortly after the Civil War, Myers and about a thousand other African American dock workers lost their jobs because white coakers protested the employment of blacks in their occupation. In response, Myers established the colored Caucus Trade Union Society. Pulling resources and borrowing funds, members formed a cooperative that bought both a shipyard and a railway. Within months, the cooperative employed 300 black tradesmen and ultimately a number of white workers as well. Among his many accomplishments, Myers was the first president of the colored National Labor Union. Coincidentally, he was succeeded by Frederick Douglass, who, while enslaved, had also worked as a ship cocker in Baltimore before his escape to freedom. The answer and not of WFSU.
Who was A. Philip Randolph?February 4, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labormen we ask who was a Philip Randolph? A native Floridian, an African American, and a socialist, Randolph was an early advocate of the necessity of linking racial justice to economic justice. Elected president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, he led the union in a bitter 10-year struggle with the Pullman Company that was finally resolved when passage of the Railway Labor Act forced the company to negotiate. Workers gained pay raises, the right to overtime pay, and a shorter work week. Randolph later turned his attention to seeking justice for African Americans in the U.S. military. By invoking the threat of nonviolent mass protests, he was key to President Roosevelt's 1941 banning of discrimination in the defense industry, and to President Truman's 1948 banning of segregation. The burgeoning civil rights movement of which Randolph was a vital part, learned from his success, and similarly used the power of nonviolent protest to great effect over the next two decades. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was he urging people to campaign for?January 21, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called his final crusade the Poor People's Campaign. Beyond higher wages, what was the urging people to campaign for? Dr. King encouraged workers of all races to organize. The labor movement, he said, gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and government relief for the destitute. The entire country benefited as he pointed out in another speech. Everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation, but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Dr. King condemned the anti-union legislation. Quote, in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as right to work. It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer, and there are no civil rights. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Do you know that most of the poor people in our country are working everyday?January 14, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. He continued, they are making wages so low that they cannot begin to function in the mainstream of the economic life of our nation. These are facts which must be seen, and it is criminal to have people working on a full-time basis and a full-time job getting part-time income. For years, Dr. King had advocated raising the minimum wage. In 1966, he wrote, we know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage. Referring to farm laborers, mostly Hispanic, who may described as, among the most abused and neglected of all American workers, King continued, we do not speak for Negro workers only. A living wage should be the right of all working Americans, and this is what we wish to urge. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this month, we begin by asking, "What social problems concerned him the most?"January 7, 2015
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, we begin by asking what social problems concerned him the most. His answer, war, racism, and economic injustice. Recognizing links between racism and economic injustice, he asked, what good does it do to sit at the lunch counter when you cannot afford a hamburger? Dr. King saw unionization as both a moral and a political imperative for achieving economic justice. As he explained, less than a century ago, the laborer had no rights, little or no respect, and let a life which was socially submerged and barred. He continued, American industry organized misery into sweatshops and proclaimed the right of capital to act without restraints and without conscience. The inspiring answer to this intolerable and dehumanizing existence was economic organization through trade unions. The importance of unions in creating economic justice and improving African-Americans' lives persists today. Unionized African-American workers earned 27% more than non-unionized African-American workers and also received better benefits. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
What is the significance of the expression "Bread and Roses"?December 31, 2014
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. Hello, I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the significance of the expression bread and roses? Bread and roses is widely attributed to a 1911 speech by socialist labor activist Roe Schneiderman, who said, quote, the worker must have bread but she must have roses too, end quote. In other words, the labor movement secures more than just the basic necessities for workers. It demands dignity and respect on the job. James Oppenheim borrowed the phrase and his famous 1911 poem, Bread and Roses, and the term has since been used in folk songs celebrating working life in social struggle. The phrase became a political slogan in 1912 when textile workers from immigrant communities in Lawrence, Kansas went on a two-month strike protesting pay reductions, resulting from a new federal law reducing the working hours of women and children. The phrase, bread and roses is still used to emphasize that workers deserve resources to provide their families with the finer things in life, such as art, entertainment, education, and leisure time.
What does doughnut magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement?December 24, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cheresne Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does Donut Magnate Tim Horton have to do with the professional sports labor movement? Many people are aware of the National Hockey League Players Association, but the circumstances that led to its formation are somewhat unique. It began when 25-year-old defenseman Tim Horton was injured in a violent on-ice collision during a match on March 12, 1955, exposing the difficulties that veteran players had to make ends meet. At the time, Horton was earning less than $10,000 per year without adequate health benefits, unable to get the treatment his injuries required. As a result, the following season, his team threatened to reduce his wages, citing a decline in performance and in different play. Horton's situation inspired fellow players Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey to begin forming in 1957, what would eventually become the NHLPA. Horton continued to play hockey, but decided to shore up his financial position by venturing into the donut industry, opening his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964, and eventually growing the franchise to almost 6,000 locations in Canada and the United States. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout and home run?December 17, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Josh Newman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Samberg-Rabin and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What does the labor movement of the 1960s have to do with the value of a strikeout or a home run? From 1879 to 1966, baseball reserve rule allowed the league to act as a legal cartel, guaranteeing that a player was an effect the property of a specific team. Under this regime, players were denied medical coverage, paid substantially less than their market value, and could be retained without compensation when injured. In 1966, a group of players hired Marvin Miller, an economist and lead negotiator for the United Steel Workers Union at the time, to help unionize the league and write their first collective bargaining agreement. Only a few years later, the newly formed Major League Baseball Players Association had successfully negotiated that agreement, one free agency, and ensured improved safety measures for training in games. Ultimately, the MLBPA's formation affected baseball as a whole. By 1980, average player salaries rose from $16,000 in 1962 to $143,000, making baseball more profitable and popular than it had been prior to establishing the rule.
What is a yellow-dog contract?December 10, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is a yellow dog contract? The term refers to an employment agreement in which workers promise not to join a labor union, or if they already have, to resign their membership. Such agreements arose in the 1870s when unions started organizing in American factories and mines, although the expression yellow dog wasn't used until 1921. As the editor of the United Mine Workers Journal explained, it reduces to the level of a yellow dog any man that signs it, for he signs away every right he possesses under the Constitution and laws of the land and makes himself the truckling helpless slave of the employer. Beginning with New York in 1887, 16 states made it illegal to prevent employees from joining unions and the federal government outlawed yellow dog contracts in the private sector between 1898 and 1935. They remained legal in the public sector however, from many jobs, including teaching, until the 1960s. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What prompted the 1932 Norris-La Guardia Act?December 3, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. It also barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against non-violent labor disputes, and it required court hearings in which both sides had an opportunity to present evidence. This act marked a significant change in labor relations. Since the 19th century, laborers had sought unions because their employers demanded long hours in unsafe environments with low wages, little job security, and no benefits. But when unions protested these conditions, courts routinely issued injunctions for bidding picket lines or strikes. These injunctions were usually issued solely on employers' claims without giving workers a chance to be heard. Workers who disobeyed faced fines and jail time with no jury trial or other due process. These actions had radicalized many workers and federal troops had been called into break-up several strikes, giving impetus to the act's passage.
How common are sick leave and vacation rights?November 26, 2014
Hosted By : Tom Wazlavek
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslovek and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. In 2013, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that almost a quarter of American workers do not receive paid vacation or annual leave. In an earlier 2009 study, the same organization reported that out of 22 country surveyed, the United States was the only industrialized nation that did not require employers to provide paid sick leave. Many workers are surprised to learn that the United States does not require employers to provide annual holiday or sick leave to its employees. Technically, workers in the U.S. are not protected from termination for missing work due to extended illness. Furthermore, employers who do provide lead benefits but do not operate under a union contract can revise or eliminate the benefit at any time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 91% of the United States employees who currently work under union contracts do receive annual holiday leave as part of their benefits package, while 71% earn paid sick leave. Also, an employer with a unionized workforce cannot unilaterally change benefits. It must negotiate with the union. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
At what point did a 9 to 5 job become an 8 to 5 job?November 19, 2014
Hosted By : Tom Wazlavek
Written By : Tom Wazlavek
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tom Waslebeck and I'm with the United Faculty of Florida. A listener recently asked at what point did a nine to five job become an eight to five job? If this change was due to regulatory requirements, then why penalize the workers? The federal law regulating employee work hours, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was originally enacted by Congress in 1938 to deal with wage rates and overtime. However, while the FLSA does require that employers who provide short res breaks continue to pay its workers for break periods not exceeding 20 minutes, they are not required to provide res breaks. Instead, the regulation of res breaks and lunch periods is left to individual states, some of which require employers to provide res breaks and lunch periods. Because Florida is not one of those states, many unionized workplaces have had to earn lunch periods and paid res breaks through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the employer and the union representing the employees. Most American workers do have the right to engage in collective action and seek employment under a collective bargaining agreement. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is solidarity action?November 12, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. Florida's primary supplier used child labor in another country. Unions might urge the public not to shop at that store until it cut ties with the supplier. In continental Europe, solidarity action is viewed as a form of political freedom, but it's illegal in the United States, despite the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech. There are, however, two exceptions. Farm laborers are exempt, so the United Farm workers can legally ask consumers to boycott particular grocery stores. Congress also allows unions to initiate solidarity actions, if the information they provide is true, does not cause workstoppage, and informs the general public that the secondary business distributes a product produced by the primary business. The highly successful farm workers grape boycott of the 1960s, for example, use these important exemptions to improve labor conditions dramatically. Listen to archives of labormenit at wfsu.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
When someone is disgruntled about a work situation, is that a grievance?November 5, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. When someone is disgruntled of at a work situation, is that a grievance? Not necessarily. A grievance arises when employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or when a management decision is inconsistent with longstanding policies and practices. Feeling that my salary is too low is just a gripe. Feeling that my contract guarantees overtime pay that my employer is withholding is a grievance. A grievance might involve pay, benefits, safety conditions, assigned duties, or anything else the employment contract specifies. Having a formalized procedure serves both management and unions. Grievance procedures help employers discover and correct problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner before they result in litigation. They provide labor unions with a process for enforcing their employment contracts and they also protect workers from arbitrary decisions about discharge, promotion, or benefits. Grievance procedures vary, some are simple involving only a neutral umpire while others involve many steps. In any case, a grievance procedure works best when both parties realize that it serves their shared interests. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What are "right-to-work" laws?October 29, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u-dot-org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What are right to work laws? Although the phrase right to work might suggest a guaranteed job, these laws have nothing to do with employment per se. Rather, they prohibit employers and unionized workers from negotiating any agreement that requires workers who benefit from the union contract to pay their share of the costs. In other words, right to work laws require all workers to receive the benefits of union membership while only some workers cover the costs. Whether or not states enact right to work laws, no collective bargaining agreement can ever compel a worker to join a union, but unions are required to represent all workers covered by a contract, members and non-members alike. Right to work laws don't impact any workers' representation. They simply allow the costs to be distributed unequally. Interestingly, workers in right to work states earn about $5,500 less than their peers in states without such laws. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their rate of workplace deaths is also 53% higher.
Could feminist literary realism humanize mill workers in the 1860s?October 22, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, could Feminist Literary Realism humanized mill workers in the 1860s author Rebecca Harding Davis wrote with this goal, her 1861 novel Life in the Iron Mills, Defined Traditional Styles, while still making sentimentalist arguments about the human condition. Inspired by social Darwinism, Davis's novel used local color techniques such as behavioral descriptions and dialect, so that each character represented not only a particular socio-economic class, but also a cultural stereotype, revealing the harshness of some stereotypes when they were used by certain groups. From the iron puddleer to the spools worker, Davis's lowliest characters were not only victims of their environment, they were also its products. One character, for example, carved an impressive statue out of the same industrial materials that ultimately diminished his drive to leave the mills. While his end was tragic, the statue symbolized three central themes of feminist literary realism, the need for social redemption, the challenges of social uplift, and the enduring capacity for personal change. And not of WFSU.
What is the significance of the New York Women Workers' Protective Union?October 15, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tarez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what inspired the New York Working Women's Protective Union? Last week, we considered how Fannie Fern's journalistic reputation reflected social utilitarianism, but much of her writing also demonstrated pro-labor views. Fern's 1868 essay, The Working Girls of New York, examined the effects of America's industrial revolution on urban working conditions in northern states. The essay targeted shopkeepers, philanthropists, and suffragists who defended women's rights while neglecting those who lacked the luxury to think about suffrage in its political sense. Fern used documentary vignettes and environmental details to report an untold story. Women working in New York's fashion industry helped to enfranchise all women in theory, but in practice they formed a new lower class. The shift from domestic suppression to free industrialization led to bleak working conditions for girls under 18, whether their workplace was a textile mill or an upscale boutique. The only hope Fern sought to combat this trend was the New York Working Women's Protective Union. Submit a question for Labor Minute at www.fsu.org. Slash Labor Minute Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a practical blue-stocking?October 8, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Jerez Samargraib and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, what is a practical blue stocking? For authors like Fannie Fern, this was a modern version of the 18th century educated woman meeting in parter-like settings to discuss social problems. Fannie Fern was the pen name of Sarah Pason Willis, an American novelist, satirist, and journalist who critiqued the economic victimization of women. She was so much in demand that in 1856 the New York ledger offered her $100 per column to write a regular installment, about four times the amount usually offered for first installments. In a column entitled a practical blue stocking, Fern sketched a conversation between two husbands when one realizes with envy that the other's wife is literary, intelligent, monetarily employed, and apt at domestic management. Through this conversation, Fern offered a logical rationale for women to work in the literary marketplace. Influenced by her own anti-federalist father, Fern's writings reveal strong ties to social utilitarianism, supporting the identity politics of underrepresented groups like working-class girls, and expanding the bill of rights to include women's right to work. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the mass march on Washington originate?October 1, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. In response to a falling labor market, the American Federation of Labor passed a resolution urging government intervention through the creation of public works projects. This uncertain economic climate prompted labor protests, and quite possibly, the first political march on Washington in 1894. The march was led by Jacob Coxie, an Ohio politician describing himself as a general. Coxie's army of protesters were unemployed citizens who petitioned in boots for Congress to develop an unemployment fund. Their platform was informed by a radical populism. To reach Washington, some of the army hop trains without paying for service, while others commandeered a train on the northern Pacific railway. After Coxie's eventual arrest for trespassing on the Capitol lawn, the mass march remained a political phenomenon. Listen to archives of Labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash Labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was America's first national labor leader?September 24, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Teresa Mergraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was America's first national labor leader? While there might be differing opinions about when the labor movement officially began, William Silvis headed the first successful National Labor Federation in the United States, the National Labor Union, from 1866 until his death in 1869. Silvis accomplished a great deal in his 41 years, advocating for an eight hour work day, producer cooperatives, women's participation in labor unions, land reform, union benevolence, monetary reform, and organized labor. Silvis shaped the NLU into an organization that looked beyond United States shores to liaise with foreign labor organizations. Its members ranged from iron molders and machinists to telegraphers and shipwrites, and Silvis even appointed the first female national labor official, Kate Malaney, as assistant secretary. Although the NLU eventually dissolved without Silvis' leadership, it did have long-term effects, including the eventual formation of the Knights of Labor Organization in 1874, the American Federation of Labor in 1886, and the National Bureau of Labor in 1889. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org, slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
Are the Industrial Workers of the World still active today?September 17, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute are the industrial workers of the world still active today? Yes, the IWW continues to organize workers worldwide in workplaces and other venues. Perhaps the IWW's most famous contemporary member is Tom Morello, guitarist of the band, rage against the machine. Morello, a long-time union member and son of a union member, traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in 2011 to join tens of thousands of public employees occupying the state capital to defend collective bargaining rights. As mentioned last week, the IWW or Wobblies are known for singing at rallies, so it was unsurprising when Morello, wearing his IWW hat, sang to entertain the protesters. Morello explained his position on unions, writing in Rolling Stone, where it not for hard-fought union struggles of the past, we wouldn't enjoy some of the most basic human rights that we enjoy today. The next time you have a good weekend, you can thank the union for fighting for those two days off. If your eight-year-old son doesn't work in a coal mine or your ten-year-old daughter doesn't slave away in a textile mill, you can thank the union.
Who are the "Wobblies"?September 10, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, who are the wobblies? This was the nickname of the industrial workers of the world founded in 1905 by legendary labor leaders including Big Bill Haywood and Mother Jones as an alternative to the American Federation of Labor or AFL which they considered too conservative. IWW members believe in workplace democracy where, for example, workers elect their managers. Their motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, reflected their conviction that workers power lay in worker solidarity. It was the only union at that time that admitted all workers, including women, immigrants, African Americans, and Asians. The IWW was particularly known for singing at meetings and rallies, a practice that arose from necessity. When IWW speakers would try to address a crowd, management often sent a Salvation Army band to drown them out. So IWW members, most famously Joe Hill, wrote lyrics of their own to sing along with the band, creating an opportunity to express the workers frustrations with an element of humor. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is the significance of Labor Day?September 3, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-andfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What's the significance of Labor Day? In the late 1800s, American laborers typically worked 12 hour days, seven days a week for poverty wages. Conditions were often unsafe and many workplaces lacked basic sanitation. In response, labor unions organized protests demanding shorter hours, higher wages, and humane working conditions. In one demonstration, an estimated 10,000 workers in New York City marched from city hall to Union Square. This rally held on September 5, 1882 was America's first Labor Day parade. The public and workers nationwide were galvanized by the workers' rights movement and the idea of a labor holiday celebrated on the first Monday and September spread to other cities. In 1894, an act of Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday. As American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers observed, Labor Day differs from every other holiday because it does not celebrate any person, sect, race, or nation, but rather a movement.
What does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws?August 27, 2014
Written By : Robin Goodman
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Cherez Samargrave and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what does a 1905 novel have to do with 21st century sanitation and labor laws? Uptans and clairs muck-raking novel The Jungle painted a vivid portrait of what it was like to work in Chicago's meat-packing industry, instigating an era of reform. As the story of Lithuanian immigrants who sought a better life in America, The Jungle dramatically portrays the outcomes of an unsanitary and unregulated industry, including babies dying from poison food and workers unable to provide health care for their families. St. Clair's novel gained notoriety even before it was published. Winston Churchill said that the novel made the great beef-truss stink in the nostrils of the world, and Teddy Roosevelt was said to exclaim, I'm pisoned after reading it, throwing his breakfast sausages out the window. Roosevelt sent government inspectors to reform public sanitation laws and to expose the exploitation of labor and systematized contamination in the making of excelle-seer sausages, purely flared and potted ham that fed 30 million people nationwide. This resulted in the 1906 Federal Meatpacking Act and eventually the Food and Drug Act. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at WFSU.org-slash-laborminute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Where did the eight-hour workday originate?August 20, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Tares Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, where did the eight-hour workday originate? While there were attempts to regulate the workday as early as 1810, none of them took hold until the 1869 passing of Proclamation 182. Many of us take it for granted, but acceptance of the eight-hour day by employers only began a century ago, and much of the credit goes to the monomania of Ira Stewart in the Grand Eight-hour League. As a machinist, Stewart was already working 12-hour days at age 13 when he joined Boston's growing trade union movement in 1844. He publicly supported a 10-hour workday, and later an eight-hour workday for all laborers throughout the country. In 1863, the machinist and blacksmiths union voted Stewart as stipend so that he could promote this idea full-time. By the mid-1860s, the federal government and several states had passed eight-hour workday legislation, and Boston's Labor Reform Association renamed itself the Grand Eight-hour League of Massachusetts. The model quickly spread, and today an eight-hour workday is common, thanks to many years of effort from countless labor leaders, most notably, Ira Stewart. The chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story?August 13, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Most weeks, Labor Minant examines moments in labor history such as the advent of minimum wage laws or safety standards. But once a law or regulation goes into effect, is that the end of the story? Not necessarily. Most of us assume that employers adhere to minimum wage laws, but Department of Labor Studies reveal violations by 63% of New York garment factories. That figure rises to 67% in Los Angeles, where 98% of the garment factory workers also face health and safety violations so serious that inspectors indicate they could lead to severe injuries or even death. The Center for Disease Control has found that when blood tests indicate dangerously high lead exposure, the cause is usually work-related, most commonly from jobs in manufacturing, construction, or mining. Lead exposure isn't the only problem. OSHA's top 10 list of workplace safety violations represented over 42,000 interactions just in the last year. Laws are important, but enforcement matters too. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Who was Norma Rae?August 6, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labormen and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Who was Norma Ray? The real-life union organizer portrayed in the film Norma Ray was named Crystal Lee Sutton. In 1973 Sutton and her co-workers at the JP Stevens textile plant earned poverty wages for long hours and were deeply concerned about plant conditions. Workers inhaled cotton dust, suffered hearing loss from the noise, and routinely lost fingers in the equipment. However, desperate to keep their jobs, they felt too intimidated to complain individually, so Sutton undertook a campaign to organize a union and was fired in retaliation for her efforts. When police arrived at the plant to carry her out, in a last act of defiance, she wrote one word on a piece of cardboard, union. She stood up on her work table and held the sign over her head without saying a word. One by one, the emboldened factory workers turned off their machines until the plant was silent. The amalgamated clothing and textile workers union soon won the right to represent these workers and Sutton was reinstated with back pay. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Are there unions in Florida?July 30, 2014
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Daufick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, are there unions in Florida? You might be surprised. While it is known as a right to work state, Florida has had active unions for over 100 years. Sagar makers were active in Tampa early in the 20th century, and unions persist in Florida today. In 2013, roughly 5.4% of all employed Florida workers were union members, and that doesn't include the non-unionized workers who receive the same benefits from working in unionized firms. Although this is just under half the rate of unionization nationwide, that's still a lot of Floridians. Imagine a party with more than 400,000 of your closest friends. Floridians involve a wide range of professions and industries, including teachers and professors, machinists and steel workers, theatrical and stage employees, and even air traffic controllers and government employees. There are more than 500 different local unions in Florida today. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?July 23, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
Do Americans like unions?July 16, 2014
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minant ask do Americans like unions? Not surprisingly, opinions differ sharply. Some people regard unions as hindering society while others regard unions as a positive force for social change. Those with favorable views typically believe that unions support the underdog, give workers a voice in negotiating and advocate fairness and justice. Opponents of unions generally believe that they interfere with economic efficiency. Both views are multifaceted and complex and public opinion polls have regularly tracked union perception for many years and tied them to various causes. The Gallup Organization, for example, has been asking a union approval question on its public polls since the 1930s. In August 2013, a little over half of Americans approved of unions in response to this question while only a little over a third disapproved. Over the long term, the response ratio is about two to one for approvals to disapprove. So in short, yes, in spite of statistical shifts over the years, a majority of Americans still do approve of labor unions. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Can unions affect non-unionized workers?July 9, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. About three more days a year of paid vacation leave than do non-unionized workers. However, those benefits may also spread to workers not in unions, simply by setting the bar higher for work-related benefits. When unionized firms offer competitive wages and benefits, that standard has historically motivated non-unionized firms to reconsider salary, healthcare, and family leave policies. Some economic theorists, including Joseph Stiglitz and Milton Friedman, speculate that standards push higher by union activity, created a burgeoning middle class in the United States after World War II. Union membership has declined since then, with a corresponding negative effect on many workers' wage and benefit packages unionized or not. Statistically speaking, strengthening the right to organize unions may be a stronger factor in restoring America's middle class than most people realize.
What do women want?July 2, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what do women want? So goes the age-old question. When it comes to paychecks, polls show that women want the same thing all workers want, a fair days pay for a fair days work. However, history shows that it hasn't worked out that way. The earliest employment records dating from 14th century Paris show that employers have traditionally paid men more than women. Sex differences and earnings occur in every occupation and in every country. In the United States today, women working full-time year-round can expect to earn about three-quarters of what men earn. That is an improvement over the 64 percent figure for 1960, but women still have a long way to go. How do they get there? The solutions may also be age-old, valuing women's work, ending inequitable pay practices, and implementing work-family policies that are accessible and fair. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at www.wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wfsu.
Mother Jones - Have labor strikes ever been done for social protest?June 25, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Tira Samagraban and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, have labor strikes ever been done for social protest? According to Mary Harris Mother Jones, that was their principal function. Mother Jones emigrated from Ireland to North America, working in Toronto, Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee, first for education, then for organized labor. Jones had the reputation of a radical organizer, asking others to stand in for labor laws surrounding coal mines and silk mills, which had the largest number of fatal industrial accidents each year. In her autobiography, Jones remembers the 1897 Hazelton Pennsylvania Miner Strike, which involved over 10,000 workers and the deaths of 19 unarmed immigrant miners. Although she did not advocate violence, Jones was not a pacifist. Since voting rights were not in place for women, children, and minority groups at the time of the strike, she thought that organized labor could exercise force since constitutional inequality made them find other ways to participate. Jones also thought women should protest on the front lines, rather than only engage in the timid work of temperance, charity, and suffrage. As a result, Jones hoped that unions would take hold. Even without the vote she argued one could still stand in for compromise. Submit a question for Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the fsu chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wfsu. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not of wfsu.
What is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions?June 18, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Terez Sam Regraibin and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is the relationship between women's literacy and labor unions? Though it may seem like an unlikely partnership, women's literacy clubs have a long history with labor unions in industrial North America. After the 1911 Triangle Shirt Waste Factory fire, activists Roe Schneiderman encouraged the women's trade union league to promote education that would help women advance their own interests. In 1921, Schneiderman organized the Brin Mar summer school for women workers in order to expose working-class girls to higher education topics. The school also raised awareness of how strong, written and oral communication skills could help women workers negotiate labor management relations. Schneiderman wasn't the first to align women's literacy with labor reform. The 1911 and 1912 editions of Life and Labor magazine published a literacy curriculum alongside trade union tips, acknowledging that asking for fair wages and protecting workers' rights were precisely the activities that prompted urban women and immigrant workers to learn to read and write. Submit a question for labor minute at wfsu.org slash labor minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Information provided is the opinion of a sponsor and not on WFSU.
What was the significance of the Triangle Factory fire?June 11, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What was the significance of the triangle factory fire? The triangle shirt-waste factory was a sweatshop like many others in New York when a fire broke out near closing time on a Saturday in 1911. Triangle workers, recent immigrants afraid to complain about their working conditions were trapped on the upper floors. The owners had locked the fire escape doors for fear that workers would steal supplies or take unauthorized breaks. As the fire raged out of control, firefighters' ladders were several stories too short to rescue the victims and water from their hoses could not reach the top floors. To the horror of onlookers, many workers, almost entirely young women and girls, some only 14 years old, jumped to certain death rather than burn alive. Within 18 minutes, 146 had perished. Bullsteered by public outrage, the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union successfully demanded higher workplace safety standards. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wfsu.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is collective bargaining?June 4, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Laborman and his made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. What is collective bargaining? Collective bargaining is the negotiating process between employers and a group of employees with the goal of reaching agreements that determine working conditions. Collective bargaining agreements usually specify wages, benefits, hours, health and safety standards, grievance mechanisms, and employees' rights to participate in workplace decision making. The expression collective bargaining was first used by economic theorist Beatrice Webb in 1891, but the practice was established by trade unions much earlier, beginning in the 18th century. Collective bargaining still matters today. Collective bargaining rights give workers the opportunity to improve their living standards, provide for their families, and build a strong middle class. As President Ronald Reagan remarked on Labor Day in 1980, where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org-slash-labor-minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
You may have heard the term "Union Wage Premium," but what does it really mean? May 28, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you may have heard the term union wage premium, but what does it really mean? This term refers to the difference in wages between workers who are represented by unions and workers who aren't. National data show that after taking into account large scale factors that affect wages, such as a worker's occupation, industry, and region of the country, and after taking into account individual factors that affect wages, such as a worker's education, experience, and marital status. People in unions out-earn their non-unionized peers by 13%, a difference of approximately a dollar and a quarter per hour. Union membership raises workers' wages across the board, but its impact is even stronger for certain populations. Hispanic women in unions, for instance, earn 16% more than non-unionized Hispanic women. African-American men out-earned their non-unionized peers by 20%. In the past, men have benefited more from union pay because they were more likely to be union members. In recent decades, however, women have been joining unions at a rapid rate, and now constitute 45% of union workers, and their wage premium is almost 10%. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform?May 21, 2014
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Tarez Samra Graban
Transcript
Labor Minant is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-n-f-s-u.org. I'm Tarez Sammer-Graben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minant, how did Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence maternity reform? While she is well known for writing the yellow wallpaper in 1892, Gilman more often wrote lectures, essays, and novels that challenged Americans to consider the moral and economic benefits of equalizing labor. By 1916, she had published a series of essays that made the idea of maternal pension plans a pressing economic issue. In one such essay, Maternity Benefits and Reformers, Gilman argued for an interdependent system of state support, similar to what we now know as maternity leave, superseded in 1993 by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Gilman argued that there could only be three objections to such a proposal, a desire to prevent maternity, to penalize maternity, or to prevent mothers from taking other gainful occupations. Ultimately, she argued for maternity reform on the basis that men and women should be equal participants in a growing trade-based economy. Without that equality, Gilman said, the work of mothers, wives, widows, and domestic caretakers would be devalued rather than celebrated as an important civic service with an economic function. Labor Minant is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Sixteen TonsMay 14, 2014
Hosted By : Nancy Rogers
Written By : Nancy Rogers
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-fnfsu.org. I'm Nancy Rogers and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Did you know that many workers of the past were paid not in cash but rather in company tokens or script? The song 16 Tons written and first recorded by Merle Travis and later taken to Billboard No. 1 by Tennessee Ernie Ford tells the story of a minor who load 16 tons of coal only to find himself another day older and deeper in debt. Travis knew the life of a coal miner well because his own father worked in the Kentucky mines. Modern listeners wonder how a person could work hard all day and emerge deeper in debt. In Travis's words, a coal miner goes on for years without being paid one red cent in real honest to goodness money. Script could only be spent at the employer's store and because of the store faced no competition prices were set higher than market so wages didn't go far. The singer complains that he can't afford to die because he owes his soul to the company store. Conditions like this were finally halted through the actions of the United Mineworkers.
What is Work to Rule?May 7, 2014
Hosted By : Pam Doffek
Written By : Pam Doffek
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-nfsu.org. I'm Pam Duffick and I'm a member of United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, what is work to rule? Work to rule is a labor action in which work has performed all of the tasks explicitly associated with their jobs, but ceased to perform the extra task that they typically take on. Work to rule is a temporary action that workers take instead of a strike to protest pay or working conditions. Work to rule also highlights how often workers perform above and beyond their job requirements. For example, school teachers engaging in work to rule might explain to administrators and parents they will no longer pay out of pocket for school supplies or volunteer for after school club activities, or warehouse workers exercising work to rule might perform tasks exactly as safety regulations require with no shortcuts thereby slowing down production. In both cases since the workers are performing their jobs as described in their contract, they are less likely to be disciplined by their employers for failure to perform.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?April 30, 2014
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor Minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labor Minute asks, what is the Fair Labor Standards Act? Your 10-year-old can babysitter sell newspapers, but he can't work in a minor or a garment factory. Your 15-year-old can work back in groceries, but you can't do so during school hours. You'll make at least minimum wage working most jobs in the U.S., and if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you'll probably earn time in a half. These protections are mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting most full and part-time workers in the public and private sectors. First pass in 1938, the act has been amended more than 40 times, including the addition of provisions making it illegal to pay workers last-base solely on their sex, prohibiting employment discrimination against people age 40 or older, and increasing the minimum wage multiple times. These and other protections under the act have affected millions of workers. They weren't obtained easily, however, and represent the efforts of the men and women of the Labor Movement who still work to keep these protections intact. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Which Side Are You On?April 23, 2014
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Prophet and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, which Sider Yuan asks Florence Reese and her 1931 Folk Anthem. Come all you poor workers, she sings. Good news to you, I'll tell. All that good old union has come in here to dwell. Reese's husband Sam was a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky, where coal miners were engaged in a violent struggle known as the Harlan County War, a struggle between mine owners and local authorities that lasted from 1931 to 1939. One night, Sam was warned that men were coming to kill him and he fled before the local sheriff and his deputies arrived. After the officials illegally searched the family's home and terrorized her children, Florence angrily ripped a calendar from the kitchen wall and wrote those lyrics on the back. Since then, versions of which Sider Yuan have been recorded by numerous artists, including the Almanac singers in 1941, Pete Seeger in 1967, the punk band dropped kick Murphy's in 2001, an independent artist, Ani DeFranco in 2012. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
Harlan County, KentuckyApril 16, 2014
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jennifer Proffitt
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week on Labor Minute, you might know Harlan County, Kentucky, as the setting for the TV hit Justified, which details poverty and crime and contemporary Appalachia. But what is its significance off the screen? In real life, Harlan County has been a center of labor struggles since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, coal companies in Harlan County cut miners already low wages and their attempts to maintain national dependency on coal by selling it below cost. Organized by the United Mine Workers of America, workers went on strike, resulting in a violent struggle with the coal companies and local authorities. Four decades later, violence erupted again when striking workers and their spouses were shot at while organizing for decent pay, safer worker conditions, and fair labor practices. These incidents, along with miners' day-to-day struggles, were chronicle by the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County USA and by the television film Harlan County War. Ultimately, it was the fatal shooting of miner Lawrence Jones that finally led to negotiations and a settlement. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.
What is a labor union?April 9, 2014
Hosted By : Jennifer Proffitt
Written By : Jack Fiorito
Transcript
Labormen and Tiz made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Jennifer Profitt and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. This week's Labormen it asks, what is a labor union? We have many types of combinations in our society. We have corporations, partnerships, clubs and religions, just to name a few well-known examples. A union is also a combination. A labor union is a group of workers coming together to advance their interests and promote their vision of a better society. Unions form to give workers a voice. During the Industrial Revolution, powerful companies began to dominate society. Feeling increasingly defenseless and ignored by unconcerned employers, laborers united to gain influence both at work and in the broader society. By the 1930s, unions became an accepted part of American culture. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 recognizes and protects the right of private sector workers to form unions and collaborate to make their voices heard through collective bargaining. Later laws extend these protections to other workers. In Florida, the right to form unions or to refrain from union involvement is protected in the state constitution. Listen to archives of labormenit at wf-f-u.org slash labormenit. Labormenit is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and wf-f-u. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of wf-f-u.
How have employers used race to divide organized labor?November 30, -0001
Hosted By : Tarez Samra Graban
Written By : Irene Padavic
Transcript
Labor minute is made possible in part by the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, advancing and defending academic freedom, intellectual excellence, and providing a voice for faculty at Florida State University on the web at uff-f-f-f-u.org. I'm Teres Samargraben and I'm a member of the United Faculty of Florida. Today's question, how have employers used race to divide organized labor? The history of U.S. race relations is solid by efforts of some 20th century employers to divide workers on the basis of race. Perhaps the most notorious example was during the great steel strike of 1919. At the end of World War I, union organizers faced off with U.S. steel, plant managers targeted union supporters for dismissal, broke up meetings, and confiscated leaflets. Workers nevertheless voted overwhelmingly to strike, along with violent attacks, one unscrupulous employer tactic was hiring 30 to 40,000 African-American and Mexican-American workers as strikebreakers. The strike was decisively broken and the animosity and resentment towards minority workers delayed cross-race union alliances for many years. It was not until the 1940s that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was able to successfully act on the precept, Black and White, Unite, and Fight. Listen to archives of Labor Minute at wf-f-u.org slash Labor Minute. Labor Minute is a service of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida and WFSU. Content provided is the opinion of the sponsor and not of WFSU.

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