Use the following quote to answer the question.
"I can butcher, but they won't give me a job.
They fired me on account of [being in the] CIO union one time.
I started [to] organize the boys on the gang.
Almost all join right away.
So we talk all the time what the union is goin' (going to) do for us, goin' raise wages, stop speed-up, and the bosses watch and they know it's a union commin' (coming)."
1. What was this person's role in their union?
2. How did this person believe that the union was going to help them?
3. What do YOU think the benefits or disadvantages of joining a union in the 1930s would be? Use examples to support your answer.
1. This person was a member of the CIO union.
2. This person believed that the union was going to raise wages and stop speed-up (the practice of increasing work pace without increasing pay or benefits).
3. In the 1930s, joining a union had both benefits and disadvantages. One major benefit of joining a union in the 1930s was the potential to improve working conditions and wages. Unions fought for better pay, shorter work hours, and safer working conditions. Through collective bargaining and negotiation, unions were able to secure better contracts and benefits for their members. For example, the union could negotiate for higher wages or benefits such as medical insurance or retirement plans.
However, there were also disadvantages to joining a union in the 1930s. Many employers were strongly opposed to unions and would often take actions to suppress union activities. Employees who joined unions risked being fired or blacklisted by employers who saw unionization as a threat to their control and profitability. In the quote, the person mentioned that they were fired when their employer found out they were in the union. Additionally, employers could also engage in anti-union tactics such as hiring strikebreakers or using violence to intimidate union members.
Overall, joining a union in the 1930s was seen as a way to fight for workers' rights and improve working conditions, but it also carried the risk of facing retaliation from employers. The benefits and disadvantages of joining a union would depend on the specific context and the level of support from other workers and the community.