Wisconsin's Role in Labor History

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In 1865 Molders Union Local 125 was formed in Milwaukee and became the nation's first modern trade union. In 1886, Milwaukee workers shut down most industrial plants during the first five days of May in pursuit of the eight-hour day. When thousands of protestors marched to Milwaukee's largest employer, Bay View Rolling Mills, the Wisconsin State Militia killed seven while firing into the crowd. Bay View came one day after the Haymarket Affair in Chicago. Although temporarily quieting the movement, labor learned that they could work in solidarity to achieve results. In 1867 the Knights of St. Crispin formed in Milwaukee and expanded to become the nation's largest union with over 50,000 shoemaker members.

Out of the tragic Bay View event came the development of a viable Socialist movement in Milwaukee and the resulting elections of community leaders that would leave a positive mark on the state's largest city. At this time, "Fighting Bob" La Follette's Progressive Party came into power in the state. A 14-week citywide strike in Oshkosh in 1898 by more than 2,000 workers in seven woodworking mills drew national attention, when three unionists were arrested for "conspiracy." This was a critical charge. If the arrests had been upheld, it would have opened the way for employers to undercut any effort at unionization as constituting a "conspiracy" against an employer's property rights. Famed attorney Clarence Darrow represented the unionists and won their acquittal after a two-day summation that is one of the greatest statements against worker slavery.

Workers and unions in Wisconsin early on saw the need for joining in councils and federations both within communities and statewide. Councils of the American Federation of Labor, with Milwaukee's Federated Trades Council forming in 1887, supplanted several Knights of Labor chapters. The Wisconsin State Federation of Labor was formed with a convention in 1893 in Milwaukee with goals calling for abolition of child labor, workplace safety and health protections, the eight-hour day, workers compensation, an end of "company stores" and requirement to pay wages in cash, not company script.

With the support of people like University of Wisconsin Economist, John R. Commons, and Progressive Governor, Robert M. La Follette, it was no wonder that in 1911 the State of Wisconsin passed the first workers compensation law and in 1932 passed unemployment compensation. In 1937, the Wisconsin Employment Relations Act was passed, which added critical state support to the workers' right to organize. During the years of the Great Depression (1929-1941), Wisconsin workers joined unions in droves, making Wisconsin one of the most unionized of states on a percentage basis; it's a record that continues today.

Wisconsin employers fought back and resisted unionization during the years of the Great Depression from 1929 to 1941. Allis-Chalmers used red-baiting tactics to resist the United Auto Workers during an 11-month strike in 1947. J.I. Case in Racine forced the UAW into an 11-month strike just after World War II to halt union security demands, and the Kohler Co. fought off unionization through two multi-year strikes, the second one lasting from 1954 to 1960. Throughout these and other long strikes, Wisconsin workers showed remarkable solidarity, helping to build a union tradition in the state to overcome stiff employer resistance.

A tradition of solidarity helped Wisconsin lead the way in public employee unionism. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers was founded in 1936 in Madison, WI. Public workers gained true union rights in the late 1950s, with some public employee unions recognizing that they had to use private industry tactics, such as the strike, to win justice. In Milwaukee, AFSCME District Council 48 almost annually threatened garbage strikes at budget time, prompting city officials there and elsewhere to seek state law supporting public sector collective bargaining and banning strikes. The result was Section 111.70 of the State Statutes, which finally was given teeth in 1963. The law set up union elections procedures, a "prohibited practice," and fact-finding, all of which gave public employees greater rights and helped to spur unionism.

Wisconsin labor law became a model for the nation. It was a success, because few crippling strikes occurred, while employees gained better wages and working conditions. Teachers' unions struggled for a while to find their place under the new law, needing in some cases to cast off their former leadership by principals and superintendents to become "unions" in fact, if not in name. The 1974 Hortonville Teachers' strike, however, demonstrated the chancy results of public employee strikes, particularly in smaller communities. In 1977, following strikes by Madison firefighters and Milwaukee police, the legislature called for binding arbitration of public employee strikes, virtually ending such job actions in the public sector.

more...

http://www.carpenter...e/87962_837.htm

Edited June 10, 2012 by Mister Fancypants

[Pooky 3,830]

So Wisconsin has led the way again. Good for the Cheeseheads.