Abstract
This excellent, well-written book undertakes the formidable task of bringing together in a single volume a wealth of information concerning organized labor. It is a challenge the authors meet with considerable skill and sophistication. The Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor contains a very useable chronology, a concise introduction, a vital glossary of terms, appendices with essential statistical data and an extensive bibliography.
The heart of this work is the four hundred plus entries that cover not just major unions and their leaders but also both international and national organizations and significant labor issues. Admittedly this is not light vacation reading but rather an indispensable reference work for labor educators and all who seek to understand organized labor. With this book in hand, it is easier to understand the background of current struggles.
Let’s look at one example. In the summer of 2013, demonstrations in Turkey were in the spotlight. Some news reports briefly mentioned the involvement of Turkish trade unions in calling for strike action. In this volume under “Turkey” (pp. 265–266), the reader learns that unions have only been legal in this nation since 1947. Moreover, even after becoming legal, unions have faced fierce repression over the past sixty years. The authors trace the background and evolution of the two major trade union federations, Türk-Is established in 1952 and the more radical DISK that broke from the more mainstream federation in 1967. By 2010, the combined strength of these two federations was around a million and a half members. Trade unionists have repeatedly complained of human rights violations by the government and employers. Even with reforms intended to help ease Turkey into the European Union, international trade union observers assert that Turkish labor law falls far short of international standards.
Similarly, the massive protests and violence in Brazil have been reported by the international media. The Historical Dictionary’s section on the labor movement includes the election of a former trade unionist (“Lula”) to the presidency in 2002. Despite this apparent advance for labor, the book points out that the violation of trade union rights continues, as demonstrated by the assassination of four trade union leaders in 2009 (p. 52).
On the other hand, if one hears the media talking of the wealth of Qatar it might follow that a certain curiosity about the working class ensues. Turning to page 219, the reader discovers there is no organized labor movement, collective bargaining is illegal and unions remain effectively outlawed. Many workers are brought in from abroad, and if they protest their pay or conditions they are deported. Those who go on strike face immediate arrest and deportation. By contrast, in Denmark eighty percent of workers are union members (p. 84).
Important terms and concepts are explained, such as the minimum wage (pp. 270–271), pensions (p. 208) and union wage differential (pp. 270–271). Important labor leaders, past and present, such as Jimmy Hoffa (pp. 124–125) and Carl Legien (pp. 169–170) are referenced. Key labor legislation and concepts such as “Right to Work” (pp. 226–227) and the Taft-Hartley Act (pp. 257–258) that amended the Wagner Act (p. 294) are examined.
The point to be stressed is that the Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor covers an amazing variety of topics and explains them in a clear, concise manner. This is a valuable reference work that deserves to be on the shelves of all serious libraries. It is highly recommended.