Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 1984 eISBN: 978-0-87020-571-2 | Paper: 978-0-87020-495-1 | Cloth: 978-0-87020-227-8 Library of Congress Classification HD6517.W5O93 1984 Dewey Decimal Classification 331.8809775
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Wisconsin’s workers and their leaders have always been in the vanguard of those concerned with social justice, fair labor practices, humane working conditions, and political equality. Professor Ozanne’s book, based upon years of research in newspapers, manuscripts, and the archives of both labor and management, provides a broad overview of an important chapter in Wisconsin history.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Robert W. Ozanne was a professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he taught American labor history for more than 25 years.
REVIEWS
“All those who desire to know how the labor movement in Wisconsin grew and changed will find [Ozanne’s] history an indispensable reference.” (Melvyn Dubofsky, State University of New York at Binghamton)
"The reissuance of the book now makes for an excellent reminder of the role labor played in the evolution of Wisconsin government, and it underscores the many contributions that labor made to the building of America’s middle class, benefiting not just union members, but all workers." (Dave Zweifel,The Capital Times)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Preface
PART I:
The Early Years of Unionism
Chapter 1
The First Unions, 1847–1886
The Long Depression, 1873–1878
The Eight-Hour Explosion of 1886
Chapter 2
Labor in the Lumber Industry, 1881–1898
Strike in Eau Claire
Strike Actions in Subsequent Years
The Oshkosh “Conspiracy”
The Conspiracy Trial
Enduring Effects
Chapter 3
Injunction and Open Shop: Milwaukee and Beloit, 1901–1906
The Milwaukee Machinists' Strike
The Open Shop Drive in Beloit
The Molders' Strike in Milwaukee
Chapter 4
A Statewide Labor Movement
Creation of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor
The Socialists Capture the Federation
Frank Weber: Labor's Grand Old Man
Victor Berger: A Leader Without Portfolio
PART II:
Unionism Matures
Chapter 5
Growth of the Wisconsin Labor Movement in the Twentieth Century
Craft Unionism Before World War I
Union Growth During and After World War I
The Effects of the Great Depression
Wisconsin Labor Under the New Deal: Renewed Militancy
Wisconsin Labor in World War II and the Postwar Years
Public Employee Unionism
Chapter 6
The Wisconsin State CIO
The CIO Captures the Big Metalworking Plants
Divisions Within the CIO
Defeat of the Left Wing
CIO Growth After World War II
Other Postwar Strikes Among Wisconsin CIO Unions
The Impact of the CIO
Chapter 7
Leadership
Leadership in the 1920's and 1930's
The End of Socialist Leadership
The New Leadership
The State AFL-CIO, 1966–1983
The Wisconsin Labor Movement's Contributions to National Labor Leadership
Chapter 8
Political Action
Goals and Strategy
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Wages for Women
Changes in Political Policy
The Nation's First Unemployment Compensation Law
The Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation
Labor at the Summit: The “Little Wagner Act”
The Collapse of Labor's Political Power
McCarthy Defeats La Follette
A Return to Effective Political Activity
Chapter 9
Education and Social Issues
From Labor Colleges to School for Workers
Women and Wisconsin Labor
Blacks and the Labor Movement
PART III:
Paper Mill Workers: The Forty-Year Struggle for Unionism
Chapter 10
The Fight for Saturday Night Off: 1900–1905
1902: Victory on the Fox River
1902: Defeat on the Wisconsin River
1902: Defeat on the Eau Claire River
Annihilation of the Unions, 1903–1904
Chapter 11
The Renewed Struggle for the Eight-Hour Day
Rhinelander: The First Three-Tour Paper Mill
The Employers Organize: The Western Paper Manufacturers Association
The “General” Strike at Marinette
Chapter 12
The Fight for Union Recognition: 1919–1923
Everest and Marathon
Alexander and Nekoosa–Edwards
Sensenbrenner and Kimberly–Clarh
Mead and Consolidated: An Employer Accepts Unions
Wage Cutting: The Depression of 1921–1922
Chapter 13
The 1930's: Unionization of Wisconsin's Paper Industry
Spies
The Roosevelt Era
A Mill Council Holds Off Unionism at Kimberly–Clark
Wisconsin’s workers and their leaders have always been in the vanguard of those concerned with social justice, fair labor practices, humane working conditions, and political equality. Professor Ozanne’s book, based upon years of research in newspapers, manuscripts, and the archives of both labor and management, provides a broad overview of an important chapter in Wisconsin history.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Robert W. Ozanne was a professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he taught American labor history for more than 25 years.
REVIEWS
“All those who desire to know how the labor movement in Wisconsin grew and changed will find [Ozanne’s] history an indispensable reference.” (Melvyn Dubofsky, State University of New York at Binghamton)
"The reissuance of the book now makes for an excellent reminder of the role labor played in the evolution of Wisconsin government, and it underscores the many contributions that labor made to the building of America’s middle class, benefiting not just union members, but all workers." (Dave Zweifel,The Capital Times)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Preface
PART I:
The Early Years of Unionism
Chapter 1
The First Unions, 1847–1886
The Long Depression, 1873–1878
The Eight-Hour Explosion of 1886
Chapter 2
Labor in the Lumber Industry, 1881–1898
Strike in Eau Claire
Strike Actions in Subsequent Years
The Oshkosh “Conspiracy”
The Conspiracy Trial
Enduring Effects
Chapter 3
Injunction and Open Shop: Milwaukee and Beloit, 1901–1906
The Milwaukee Machinists' Strike
The Open Shop Drive in Beloit
The Molders' Strike in Milwaukee
Chapter 4
A Statewide Labor Movement
Creation of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor
The Socialists Capture the Federation
Frank Weber: Labor's Grand Old Man
Victor Berger: A Leader Without Portfolio
PART II:
Unionism Matures
Chapter 5
Growth of the Wisconsin Labor Movement in the Twentieth Century
Craft Unionism Before World War I
Union Growth During and After World War I
The Effects of the Great Depression
Wisconsin Labor Under the New Deal: Renewed Militancy
Wisconsin Labor in World War II and the Postwar Years
Public Employee Unionism
Chapter 6
The Wisconsin State CIO
The CIO Captures the Big Metalworking Plants
Divisions Within the CIO
Defeat of the Left Wing
CIO Growth After World War II
Other Postwar Strikes Among Wisconsin CIO Unions
The Impact of the CIO
Chapter 7
Leadership
Leadership in the 1920's and 1930's
The End of Socialist Leadership
The New Leadership
The State AFL-CIO, 1966–1983
The Wisconsin Labor Movement's Contributions to National Labor Leadership
Chapter 8
Political Action
Goals and Strategy
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Wages for Women
Changes in Political Policy
The Nation's First Unemployment Compensation Law
The Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation
Labor at the Summit: The “Little Wagner Act”
The Collapse of Labor's Political Power
McCarthy Defeats La Follette
A Return to Effective Political Activity
Chapter 9
Education and Social Issues
From Labor Colleges to School for Workers
Women and Wisconsin Labor
Blacks and the Labor Movement
PART III:
Paper Mill Workers: The Forty-Year Struggle for Unionism
Chapter 10
The Fight for Saturday Night Off: 1900–1905
1902: Victory on the Fox River
1902: Defeat on the Wisconsin River
1902: Defeat on the Eau Claire River
Annihilation of the Unions, 1903–1904
Chapter 11
The Renewed Struggle for the Eight-Hour Day
Rhinelander: The First Three-Tour Paper Mill
The Employers Organize: The Western Paper Manufacturers Association
The “General” Strike at Marinette
Chapter 12
The Fight for Union Recognition: 1919–1923
Everest and Marathon
Alexander and Nekoosa–Edwards
Sensenbrenner and Kimberly–Clarh
Mead and Consolidated: An Employer Accepts Unions
Wage Cutting: The Depression of 1921–1922
Chapter 13
The 1930's: Unionization of Wisconsin's Paper Industry
Spies
The Roosevelt Era
A Mill Council Holds Off Unionism at Kimberly–Clark
Forty Years of Labor Peace
Chapter 14
In Retrospect and in Prospect
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC