No Strength Without Unions?

Ohio's history is the story of those who rolled steel, shaped metal, vulcanized rubber, and slaughtered hogs. Like workers across the country, Ohio workers have built machines, harvested crops, made soap, and nursed the sick. Yet, doing this work has not always been easy and free of trouble. Throughout the 20th century, Ohio workers struggled to ensure their employers recognized the value of their labor; simultaneously, employers struggled to create profitable, enduring businesses and industries. As a result, Ohio is home to some of the biggest advancements in labor relations—and some of the bitterest disputes.

In this unit, students will probe why giant corporations such as Procter & Gamble and National Cash Register Co. earned stellar reputations for the way they treated employees, and consider whether these reputations are deserved. They also will learn why so many Ohioans joined a socialist union, the Industrial Workers of the World, in the early part of the century. They will discover why Ohio workers were the first to devise the highly effective sit-down strike method, and explore what happened during the violent Univis Lens Strike in Dayton in 1948. In the end, students will understand how lessons learned during past labor struggles can help shape today's labor negotiations and decisions.

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