U.S. Unions since the 1960s ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

In the 1960’s labor unions were at the height of their economic and political powers. Collective bargaining provided union members with wages and benefits that kept pace with corporate profits, and even set standards for non-union workers. In politics, unions were an essential base of the Democratic coalition and crucial to passing social legislation like the Civil Rights Act and Medicare. Today, unions represent fewer than one in ten workers and struggle to produce political and economic wins for the working class. This course will examine this historic decline and its impact on society, as well as attempts by unions and workers to fight back and restore the power of unions. It is recommended that students who enroll in this course have experience in labor unions, or take a prior course on the labor movement or working class themes. (Recommended: HIST 3085 American Labor History and/or LABR 3020 Development of the Labor Movement)