Evolution or revolution in the labor movement : business unionism versus social unionism.

Abstract

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT: BUSINESS UNIONISM VERSUS SOCIAL UNIONISM Jo Ann Shumate August 2006 This is a study of the American labor movement, particularly how national labor policy is enacted at the local level. Specific differences between business unionism and social movement unionism, as defined in the literature, are combined and analyzed. Local unions are compared and contrasted in order to explore which will be more effective in the growth of the labor movement of the 21 century. This is a case study of three different types of local unions: craft, service sector, and public sector. In-depth interviews were conducted with two to three officials from each union. The questions covered five topics which were used to determine their business or social union status. The questions sought out the locals’ role in the following areas: social welfare, politics, organizing, community coalitions, advancement of women and minorities, and affiliation with either the AFL-CIO or the Change to Win Federation. It was concluded that the craft union exemplified all of the characteristics of business unionism; the service sector union was a model of social unionism; and the public sector union displayed characteristics of both, but