Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor

James C. Docherty, Sjaak van der Velden

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9780810879881
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Labour Economics
• Index: Economics

Organized labor is about the collective efforts of employees to improve their economic, social, and political position. It can be studied from many different points of view—historical, economic, sociological, or legal—but it is fundamentally about the struggle for human rights and social justice. As a rule, organized labor has tried to make the world a fairer place. Even though it has only ever covered a minority of employees in most countries, its effects on their political, economic, and social systems have been generally positive. History shows that when organized labor is repressed, the whole society suffers and is made less just.

The Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor looks at the history of organized labor to see where it came from and where it has been. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, a glossary of terms, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on most countries, international as well as national labor organizations, major labor unions, leaders, and other aspects of organized labor such as changes in the composition of its membership. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about organized labor.

Table of contents

• Editor’s Foreword
• Organized Labor: World Membership, 1870–2010
• U.S. 2010 Union Membership by Division
• Preface
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Chronology
• Introduction
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• Y
• Z
• Appendix A: International Federation of Trade Unions: Leaders, 1901–1945
• Appendix B: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (1949–2006) and International Trade Union Confederation (2006–2011): General Secretaries, 1949–2011
• Appendix C: International Trade Union Confederation: Affiliates, February 2011
• Appendix D: Organized Labor: Historical Statistics
• Appendix E: Glossary of Terms
• Bibliography
• About the Authors