Unions in America

Gary Chaison is Professor of Industrial Relations at the Graduate School of Management at Clark University.

Introduction Chapter 1 - The Evolution of Labor Unions The Early Years The Knights of Labor The American Federation of Labor Confrontations with Employers The Industrial Workers of the World and Revolutionary Unionism Union Decline and Resurgence During the Years Between the Wars Union Solidarity and Power The Erosion of the Labor Accord The Rise of Public Sector Unionism The Search for Union Revival Chapter 2 - Union Structure and Growth National and Unions Union Locals and Intermediate Bodies The Labor Federation Union Jurisdiction Union Mergers Union Membership and Decline The Causes of Union Growth and Decline How Unions Organize Chapter 3 - Union Government and Administration The Union Constitution Union Conventions Union officers and Governing Bodies Local Union Government Union Democracy Corruption in Unions Unions and Information Technology Union Effectiveness Chapter 4 - The Union as Bargaining Agent The Fundamentals of Bargaining Collective Bargaining Structure Collective Bargaining Agreements The Return of Concessionary Bargaining The Decline of the Strike Chapter 5 - Unions in Politics Union Political Action Union Political Campaigns Living Wages Labor Law Reform Two Campaigns in California Shopping Wal-Mart Chapter 6 - Union Revival Organizing Collective Bargaining Political Action Changing the Unions' Mission and Sturcture Chapter 7 -- The Unions of the Future Retreat Rebound Appendix: Selective Bibliography and Industrial Relations Websites

"Chapters in this excellent primer for understanding the background and current challenges facing the US labor movement focus on the historical background, the structure and growth . . and the labor movement's future in a dramatically transformed economy. Especially useful in this brief book are the discussions of unions' political activities and their prospects for revitalization." -- K. Fones-Wolf