THE CRAFT-INDUSTRIAL ISSUE REVISTED: A STUDY OF UNION GOVERNMENT

• Published in: Industrial & labor relations review 1963-04, Vol.16 (3), p.381-404
• Main Author: Weber, Arnold R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Craftsmen; Union/Unions/Unionism; United States/US
• ISSN: 0019-7939

An examination of the procedures & devices for the representation of craftsmen or skilled tradesmen within industrial labor unions (LU's), esp re the adjustments in LU gov made to accommodate the interests of crafts workers, & an assessment of the variables that may explain diff's in the adjustments in individual cases. 12 internat'l LU's are studied, including the United Automobile Workers' (UAW) the United Steel Workers, Transport Workers' (TW's) etc. It is noted that industrial unionism has not yet provided any final solution to the problem of building a stable alliance among diverse occup'al groups. Some adjustment in LU gov has been made, but this has often been marked by conflict & the build-up of intense pol'al pressures within the LU. Typically, it is found that the drive for skilled trades representation in the LU has been set off by the compression of wage differentials, but in some cases craft discontent may be magnified by job consolidation, dilution of traditional skills, & the reduction of employment opportunities as a result of contracting-out in construction & maintenance work. The pol'al pressure of craft LU's' is enhanced by the geographical concentration of the skilled workers, & the willingness of `leading craft' LU's to initiate the mobilization of discontent. The industrial LU tradition of worker solidarity has not been a signif influence on LU policies. The concessions granted to the NY transit workers by the TWU is cited in this respect, as is the case of the UAW, one of the most successful exponents of industrial unionism, which acceded, in 1957, to craft demands for some autonomy. The significance of craft self-determination in substantive areas such as collective bargaining is discussed, as are the tactical aspects of adjustment (eg, the threat of secession from the internat'l LU). The continuation of the problem of adjustment to the needs of specialized groups is predicted. J. Atkins.