Capstones
Graduation Date
Fall 12-17-2021
Grading Professor
Greg David
Subject Concentration
Business & Economics
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
In 2020, just 6.3% of U.S. private-sector workers were union members, despite the fact that 68% of Americans approve of labor unions, the highest since 1965, and nearly half of non-union workers say they would join.
After World War II, wage growth kept pace with GDP growth, but then began to diverge in the 1970s, according to a study by the RAND Corporation. After 1975, incomes of the bottom 90% rose more slowly than the economy as a whole, while incomes of the top 10% grew faster. The declining wage growth coincided with and is closely related to a drop-off in union density.
Union avoidance consultants and weak labor laws have contributed to the decimation of unions over the past several decades. Aggressive tactics, including firing or surveilling workers, are employed regularly to squash organizing. At the same time, labor academics and researchers that examine the union-busting industry have faced threats and intimidation.
Recommended Citation
Constantz, Jo, "“The New Pinkertons”: Anti-union consultants and surveillance tech thwart organizing" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/575
Union density chart
CHART_Constantz_Jo_2.jpg (109 kB)
Productivity vs. wages chart
CHART_Constantz_Jo_3.jpg (62 kB)
NLRB coercive actions cases
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Human Resources Management Commons, Labor and Employment Law Commons, Labor Relations Commons