Unions are organizations of workers that bargain with employers for economic and job benefits. They exist to create political and economic power against private management and the government to achieve their goals.
These goals are primarily higher wages, better working conditions, and job security. The arrangements made to achieve these goals are usually complex in their social and psychological detail.
Union movements occurred in the latter years of the 1700s in the US. Carpenters, printers, and shoemakers formed organizations as early as 1791 in Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. These arose largely over economic conflicts between workers and employers when rapid changes in a young developing country began to break down the familiar methods of production and the close ties between worker and employer.
A long, hard drive for legalization of union followed. Unions fought with companies and unsympathetic courts for legitimacy and status. Unions were seen as a threat to free enterprise and private property, and therefore to political and economic stability. They were also considered radical, and companies resisted them vigorously. Violence was frequent on both sides. The government at times moved in state police to suppress the more fierce conflicts. Union workers themselves often punishes other workers who did not support their polices.
Unions in the US have always maintained a practical direction. They have not adopted radical ideologies or unrealistic goals. A major force in union organizing in the early part of the century. Samuel Gompers, took a practical approach. He was for bread and butter unionism or pure and simple unionism. He was interested in immediate, practical gains ---- higher wages and shorter hours. He sided with no political party, only with politicians who could help.
1. The main objective of unions as mentioned in the first paragraph is ________.
A) to create economic and political strain to the government
B) to make complex arrangements for their members
C) to deal with employers for economic and job benefits
D) to break down the ties between employer and employee
2. Which of the following can be inferred about the purpose of a strike?
A) To force the government to get involved.
B) To relieve the conflicts between worker and employer.
C) To impose financial difficulties on a company.
D) To win court support for the worker.
3. From the passage we learn that _____。
A) unions adopted only an approach of violence to solving conflicts
B) unions are intended primarily to maintain economic prosperity
C) the government always gives vigorous support to unions during a conflict
D) there exist conflicts even among the union members themselves
4. Unions under the leadership of Gompers differ from unions in other places in that the former are characterized by ______.
A)their realistic goals
B)their power and status
C)their unique organization
D)their immediate actions
5. The word legitimacy most probably means ____.
A)role
B)fruit
C)status
D)legality
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