Goal for this section: Understand
the history of labor organizing and real improvements workers have won that we
all enjoy today.
If you only have 15 minutes...
Discussion
question: For working class folks in the early 1900s, what was it like to work in
a factory in the United States?(Answers
might include: 80+ hour work weeks,
children were working, no bathroom breaks, accidents or deaths all the time
from unsafe equipment, pollution, no overtime pay)
Discussion
question: What changed and why?(Answers might include: labor movement
organized to get minimum wage, 40 hour work week, end child labor, occupational
safety standards, or even “I don’t know”.
If people aren’t aware of these examples bring them up and confirm
everyone understands each example)
Discuss reactions.(Observations
might include: imbalanced power of
managers, i.e., bathroom story; no voice for workers; role of union organizing
in bridging racial segregation, realizing all workers are in it together;
reflecting on solidarity and violence of movement, noting that even as auto
industry in crisis and unions making concessions, labor still has seat at
table, more influence than in non-unionized industries; way Ford organizing
paved way for other industries)
Did the video remind you of
stories from other movements?(Can
point out similarities to the Civil Rights or farm workers movement –
specifically, using water hoses to restrain protestors, police violence and even
death. Can also point to the
need for people to overcome their fear to work together to achieve something
that they did not know was possible.)
Discussion
question: Is anyone a member of a union?(Ask to share a bit about history
of that union and their involvement.)
Discussion question: If there are folks who are not in unions,
would you want to be? Why or why not?(Chance
to talk about some of the myths about unions, including realities of some
unions being corrupt, but overall power of collective voice and power for
workers)
If you have 15 more minutes...
Discussion question: How
have unions or other forms of worker organizing made conditions better for
workers in the United States? (If there are immigrants in the group, can also ask of examples or
experiences where unions made conditions better for workers in their home
countries. Might also talk about
experiences of corrupt unions, in United States and other countries. Also other worker movements that may not have
related to unions, but similar goals — i.e., campesinos)
Discussion question: What
negative myths about unions does Colbert play on? Why do you think these negative myths exist
and who benefits from spreading them?
Discussion question: What are some of the differences being in a
union makes for workers?(Use the following chart to help prompt
responses.)
Discussion question: Did
you know about this history behind May 1st? (Leaders
from other countries may have stories to share about significance of May Day in
other parts of the world.)
Discussion
question: Does the Haymarket story remind you of other labor struggles or
movements from American history or other countries? (This is an opportunity to point out that worker organizing takes many
forms, not just models of union in the U.S. Examples include workers’ centers,
unemployment centers and organizations, welfare to work organizing, etc.)
Discussion
question: Why do you think we don’t hear about this history more?
Discussion question: What is your experience? Are
workplace rights and protections adequately enforced or what are some of the
things you might organize to improve in your workplace?
