The BART Strike started during the Summer in July when BART workers took a vote to decide if they should go on strike or not. The resounding result was that BART workers would go on strike. If you din't know, BART is one of the biggest source of transportation for the Bay Area and this strike would affect everyone in a negative way. Bay Area Rapid Transit management reached out to the three labor unions to meet and discuss demands. In order that a second strike not occur again Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow ordered a 60 day cooling off period. As of now Bay Area Rapid Transit management and the three labor Unions are in negotiations, but no major concessions/demands have been made. The possiblilty of a second strike is possible and if there is a second strike, BART mangers may have to drive some of the trains. The labor unions are asking for a three-year contract instead of the four-year deal favored by BART, 4.5 percent raises each year or 13.5 percent for three years, and increasing their medical insurance premiums.
Is it not similar to how the BART Workers wanted better benefits and decided that their greatest weapon was just to stop working just as the "Wage Slaves"? The thing is people are still fighting for the same thing: better wages so that they can provide for them or their families. Just thought it would be found to make a connect to present day life.
To learn more about the BART strike visit:
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-managers-may-drive-some-trains-if-2nd-strike-4833607.php
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-union-touch-on-major-issues-with-little-4828270.php
I really like this connection the the BART strike. Personally, while I do not agree with it, I understand why labor unions were illegal in beginning of the 19th century. First off, the United States was slow to begin industrialization, compared to many of the European powers. It did not really take off until the 1830's. Land, out westward especially, was cheap, and investors weren't ready to go pouring money into the industrialization. The agricultural/livestock opportunity that comes with cheap land tempted them too much. They also lacked the labor, until the large immigration in the 1840's of Irish and German immigrants. That combined with a lack of raw materials, difficulty competing with the superior British factories, and even a scarcity of consumers made industrialization slow. So, eventually, when industrialization did pick up, the United States had to play catch-up. The rich factory owners were mainly focused on further building their industrial centers and making even more money. America as a whole, wanted to get up to par with the British factories, and labor unions would slow this down.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, the lack of labor unions resulted in horrible working conditions, long hours, and poor wages. As you mentioned above, once workers realized that the best way to have their demand met was to strike, they began doing just that (circa 1840) Eventually, with greater recognition from the state and federal government and with the expanded voting franchise, trade unions did become "somewhat" legal. I hope this provides a perspective on the trade unions!