Exercises And Problems. The Labor Problem

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This section is from the book "Elementary Economics", by Charles Manfred Thompson. Also available from Amazon: Elementary Economics.

Exercises And Problems. The Labor Problem

A

1. What three forces operated before the Civil War to prevent the organization of labor?

2. How did the war itself affect these forces?

3. In what essential respects do the Knights of Labor differ from labor unions ? from the American Federation of Labor ?

4. Distinguish between a trade union and a labor union.

5. Why are the Industrial Workers of the World objectionable as an organization?

6. Why is "sabotage" such an effective weapon against the employer ?

7. Just why is the employee at a disadvantage in bargaining ?

8. How does collective bargaining remove this disadvantage?

9. Explain how a laborer can do more work in eight hours than in ten hours.

10. What are the three specific demands of organized labor?

11. How effective is the force of public opinion in settling strikes?

12. Why is the employment of strike-breakers so objectionable both to organized labor and to the public generally ?

13. What is the essential difference between conciliation and arbitration ?

14. How does voluntary arbitration differ from compulsory arbitration ?

15. What obstacles have hindered labor legislation in the United States?

16. Why have the courts distinguished between men and women in passing on the constitutionality of labor laws ?

17. Why in general does organized labor favor restrictions on foreign immigration ?

18. What is the chief cause of the general objection to the newer immigration ?

B

1. Consult with an official of a local union.

a. Get his viewpoint on the labor situation in general.

b. Inquire about specific rules of work enforced by his union.

c. Discuss with him the attitude of organized labor towards socialism.

d. Ask him about any strike experiences he may have had.

2. Call to mind any industrial strike that may have been carried on in your community.

a. Was the public vitally interested in the strike?

b. Were strike-breakers imported?

c. Did the strikers picket the plant in which they had formerly been employed?

d. Which party to the strike was the more eager to arbitrate?

e. Did the state make any effort to settle the strike? f. What was the outcome of the strike?

3. From a census report or from some other reliable source get statistics on the number of foreign-born persons living in the United States in 1910 or 1920.

a. Which nationality shows the greatest strength?

b. Does there seem to be a tendency for each nationality to settle close together ?

c. Do you find differences in nationalities in this respect ? What difference ?

4. From the source mentioned above determine the leading countries from which immigrants have come.

a. Locate these countries on a map of Europe.

b. Are these countries close together or scattered ? Are the peoples related either in religion or in nationality?

c. Explain why they should have emigrated.

d. Point out why they should have chosen the United States as a new home.

C

1. One of the cardinal policies of trade unionism is that all of the members of any union should, within narrow limits, receive the same wage.

a. Does such a policy hinder the more skilled workers ? How ?

b. How do labor leaders justify this policy?

c. What determines the wage for such a group?

d. Why should not the wage for the same kind of work, plumbing say, be the same for the whole United States?

2. Organized labor is often criticized on the ground that it opposes the introduction of new machinery and new processes.

a. Is there likely to be any basis for this criticism?

b. Would organized labor be justified in taking such a position?

Explain.

c. How would such a policy affect production? the wages of organized labor? the wages of unorganized labor?

d. What would be your position in the matter if you were an employer? a member of a trade union?

3. Many of the wisest labor laws enacted by Congress and the state legislatures have been declared unconstitutional by the various courts.

a. What is meant by the expression "unconstitutionality"?

b. Where did the courts get this power?

c. What procedure is necessary to make such laws constitutional ?

4. "America is a great melting pot in which the peoples of Europe are transformed into Americans." a. Explain what is meant by "melting pot." b. How effective is the melting process just now?

c. What experiences caused this expression to be coined? d. Should it be modified in any respect ? Just how ?