Unions in America

Chaison (industrial relations, Clark U., Massachusetts) gives a broad review of the evolution, past actions (supportive and not), structure, type, widening scope of membership, operating tools and goals of unions in America, including the reasons for the extreme reluctance of employers to allow unions on the shop floor in the recent past. He describes the earliest years of the unions and their resurgence between the world wars, along with their decline after World War II, the changes in union structures and influence, the role of the union as collective bargaining agent and as agent of political change, recent signs of revival, and the future he sees in which unions retreat, rebound, and renew. An appendix includes industrial relations websites. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR