About the book
The rise in standards of living throughout the U. S. in the wake of World War II brought significant changes to the lives of southern textile workers. Mill workers' wages rose, their purchasing power grew, and their economic expectations increased — with little help from the unions. Timothy Minchin argues that the reasons behind the failure of textile unions in the postwar South lie not in stereotypical assumptions of mill workers' passivity or anti-union hostility but in these large-scale social changes. Minchin addresses the challenges faced by the TWUA — competition from nonunion mills that matched or exceeded union wages, charges of racism and radicalism within the union, and conflict between its northern and southern branches — and focuses especially on the devastating general strike of 1951. Drawing extensively on oral histories and archival records, he presents a close look at southern textile communities within the context of the larger history of southern labor, linking events in the textile industry to the broader social and economic impact of World War II on American society.
Editions of What Do We Need a Union For?
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807823170
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807846254
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807863428
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890868367
Read an Excerpt
The rise in standards of living throughout the U. S. in the wake of World War II brought significant changes to the lives of southern textile workers. Mill workers' wages rose, their purchasing power grew, and their economic expectations increased — with little help from the unions. Timothy Minchin argues that the reasons behind the failure of textile unions in the postwar South lie not in stereotypical assumptions of mill workers' passivity or anti-union hostility but in these large-scale social changes. Minchin addresses the challenges faced by the TWUA — competition from nonunion mills that matched or exceeded union wages, charges of racism and radicalism within the union, and conflict between its northern and southern branches — and focuses especially on the devastating general strike of 1951. Drawing extensively on oral histories and archival records, he presents a close look at southern textile communities within the context of the larger history of southern labor, linking events in the textile industry to the broader social and economic impact of World War II on American society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is What Do We Need a Union For? about?
The rise in standards of living throughout the U. S. in the wake of World War II brought significant changes to the lives of southern textile workers. Mill workers' wages rose, their purchasing power grew, and their economic expectations increased — with little help from the unions. Timothy Minchin argues that the reasons behind the failure of textile unions in the postwar South lie not in stereotypical assumptions of mill workers' passivity or anti-union hostility but in these large-scale social changes. Minchin addresses the challenges faced by the TWUA — competition from nonunion mills that matched or exceeded union wages, charges of racism and radicalism within the union, and conflict between its northern and southern branches — and focuses especially on the devastating general strike of 1951. Drawing extensively on oral histories and archival records, he presents a close look at southern textile communities within the context of the larger history of southern labor, linking events in the textile industry to the broader social and economic impact of World War II on American society.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in What Do We Need a Union For??
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of What Do We Need a Union For??
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807823170
How long is What Do We Need a Union For? and how many pages does it have?
What Do We Need a Union For? has 296 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book What Do We Need a Union For??
Timothy J. Minchin
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
What Do We Need a Union For? is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807823170) and paperback(ISBN 9780807846254) and ebook(ISBN 9780807863428) and ebook(ISBN 9798890868367)
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Where can I buy What Do We Need a Union For??