Tthe emergence of a large union movement
To what degree did the emergence of a large union movement in the middle decades of the 20th century advance the civil rights and general economic well-being of African-Americans and Latina/os during those same decades. To what extent did these new unions and the new laws that helped sustain them prove problematic for the civil rights movement; and conversely, to what degree did the emergence of a powerful “rights consciousness” in the 1960s and afterward diminish the appeal of trade unionism and collective bargaining? Consider the nature of the Wagner-era labor law and also that of the civil rights laws enacted in the 1960s.
Sample Solution
The emergence of a large union movement in the middle decades of the 20th century played an integral role in advancing both civil rights and economic well-being for African-Americans and Latina/os during those same decades. Through their efforts, unions provided more opportunities for these minority groups to obtain better wages, benefits, and job security (Lichtenstein & Lipsitz, 2018). In addition to this , they also worked towards fostering an environment where racism would not be tolerated thus paving the way for these minority groups to have more access to employment opportunities that were previously unavailable due to discrimination (Lichtenstein & Lipsitz ,2018) .
Unions were instrumental in pushing legislative reforms which helped ensure equal employment rights as well as protection against workplace harassment or discrimination. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 was especially beneficial as it granted workers the right to form unions regardless of race or ethnicity( Finegold & Klein 1979 ). Unions also provided assistance with legal fees when needed along with other support services such as educational seminars regarding labor laws which could help spread awareness among members( Finegold & Klein 1979 ) . This ensured that all employees had access to necessary resources such as healthcare coverage and pensions that would provide them with long term financial stability.(Finegold & Klein 1979 )
In summary ,the rise of unionization during the later half of 20th century proved invaluable in aiding civil rights advancement and general economic prosperity among African – Americans and Latina / os by granting them greater opportunity through legislation enactments ,legal support ,educational programs etc . Thus making a lasting impact on society even today ( Lichtenstein & Lipsitz 2018 ; Finegold & Klein 1979 ).
