Fighting for a Fair Economy? the Response of Labor Unions
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FIGHTING FOR A FAIR ECONOMY? THE RESPONSE OF LABOR UNIONS TO ECONOMIC CRISIS by ANN ELIZABETH SHIRLEY LEYMON A DISSERTATION Presented to the Department of Sociology and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2012 DISSERTATION APPROVAL PAGE Student: Ann Elizabeth Shirley Leymon Title: Fighting for a Fair Economy? The Response of Labor Unions to Economic Crisis. This dissertation has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Department of Sociology by: Caleb Southworth Chairperson James Elliott Member Michael Dreiling Member Daniel Tichenor Outside Member and Kimberly Andrews Espy Vice President for Research & Innovation/Dean of the Graduate School Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Degree awarded March 2012 ii © 2012 Ann Elizabeth Shirley Leymon iii DISSERTATION ABSTRACT Ann Elizabeth Shirley Leymon Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology March 2012 Title: Fighting for a Fair Economy? The Response of Labor Unions to Economic Crisis Political opportunity theory suggests that social movement organizations will increase political action efforts during times of opportunity, such as economic crises. On the other hand, business cycle theory predicts that economic crisis will be detrimental to unions, reducing membership and subsequently dues and power. This dissertation involves historical case studies of innovative and conservative labor unions, comparing organizational behavior during the Great Depression and the economic crisis of 2008. The dissertation also includes a QCA analysis of ten labor unions’ political, organizing, and bargaining activity during the crisis of 2008. How do labor unions adjust their organizing strategies during an economic crisis? What tactics do unions use to redefine their role in the economy through social policy? What organizational characteristics define unions’ varied responses to the crisis? This research found that characteristics consistent with organizational flexibility were consistent with the ability to identify and respond to the political opportunity present in economic crisis. While some unions decreased bargaining and organizing activity to shift resources towards political activity, this was not always the case. It also contributes a systematic description and analysis of typical labor union political activity. The data suggest that leader-based political action is a primary locus of activity, demanding further iv investigation into the varied campaigns and strategies unions take. More research is necessary to understand the interaction between the organizational political activity of labor unions and the political beliefs of union members. v CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Ann Elizabeth Shirley Leymon GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR Truman State University, Kirksville, MO DEGREES AWARDED: Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, 2012, University of Oregon Master of Science, Sociology, 2007, University of Oregon Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Music, 2004, Truman State University AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Labor Studies Organizations Sociology of Work Social Stratification Research Methods PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Instructor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Illinois State University, 2011. Instructor, Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, 2008-2011 Research Assistant, Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, 2007-2010. GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, National Science Foundation, 2011- 2012. Wasby-Johnson Summer Research Award, University of Oregon, 2009. PUBLICATIONS: Leymon, Ann Shirley. 2010. “Unions and Social Inclusiveness: A Comparison of Changes in Union Member Attitudes.” Labor Studies Journal 36: 388-407. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I completed this project with a constellation of support and guidance. I do not even want to imagine how this dissertation would have turned out, or how painful the process would have been, had I not had such an incredible team of people helping me. I am eternally grateful to my spouse Mark for his extraordinary emotional, intellectual, and practical support. It would probably take another 216 page dissertation to document all of the ways you were there for me. I couldn’t ask for a better roommate! I would never have been in the position to pursue this goal if not for the generous support of my parents, Mike and Kathy Shirley. You always cheer me on no matter what path I take. I appreciate the guidance of Caleb Southworth. You have high expectations, and I’m glad that I kept striving to meet them. Although you have taught me to limit my adjectives and write concisely, I am going to use this opportunity to enthusiastically express how incredibly grateful I am for all the work you’ve put into guiding me, and all of the superb opportunities you’ve given me. Thanks to Jim Elliott, Michael Dreiling, and Dan Tichenor. I count myself very lucky that each of you three agreed to serve on my committee, and that you all stuck with me the entire four years I worked on this project. I’m also grateful to Ellen Scott – thanks for taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to work with you. I have learned heaps from each of you and I hope you are pleased to see your influence in my work. I am grateful to my entire community of support, both in graduate school and in life. There are way too many people who influenced me over the course of seven years in graduate school (and earlier) to name everyone, but if you’re reading this, chances are I vii should thank you. Rachael Willeke and Courtney Smith deserve special mention for showing up with encouragement exactly when I needed it in these last few exceptionally tough months. Dr. Linda Seidel also deserves special mention for introducing me to the discipline of Sociology in her excellent writing seminar. You have had a major influence on my life. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No. 1102823 and the Wasby-Johnson Dissertation Fellowship. viii This dissertation is dedicated to the Leymon family. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION, THEORY, AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ................ 1 Theory ................................................................................................................... 3 Historical Background .......................................................................................... 9 Great Depression ............................................................................................. 10 Crisis of 2008 .................................................................................................. 20 Previous Related Research .................................................................................... 22 Factors Influencing Political Outcomes .......................................................... 23 Factors Affecting Ability of SMOs to Influence Politics ............................... 24 Factors Affecting Ability of Labor Unions to Be Politically Active .............. 26 Influence of Union Membership on Vote Turnout ......................................... 27 Influence of Union Membership on Vote Choice ........................................... 30 Unions’ Indirect Influence on Politics ............................................................ 32 Labor Union Typology ................................................................................... 33 Businesss Cycle .............................................................................................. 34 II. METHODS ............................................................................................................. 37 Variables ............................................................................................................... 38 Hypotheses ............................................................................................................ 40 Analysis ................................................................................................................. 43 III. THE POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF THE ACWA AND BRT, 1929-1935 ........... 46 National Political Context ..................................................................................... 46 x Chapter Page AFL Political Policy ............................................................................................. 48 ACWA and BRT ................................................................................................... 54 Pre-Crisis ............................................................................................................... 55 ACWA ............................................................................................................ 55 BRT ............................................................................................................. 58 Post-Crisis ............................................................................................................. 59 ACWA ............................................................................................................ 60 BRT ............................................................................................................. 64 Post-Roosevelt ...................................................................................................... 65 ACWA ...........................................................................................................