Basically a yellow dog contract is something a worker must sign by a boss's request that says that they will not join or be part of a labor union and will be fired if they do. Some of the New Deal Reforms such as NIRA banned this, protecting labor unions, but they were officially outlawed in 1932 by the Norris-LaGuardia Act.
So when we hear about how a certain act or reform has supported labor unions or helped them, it usually means the banning of Yellow Dog Contracts or perhaps an encouragement to hire multiple people at once (hire a part of a union).
Source: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/yellow-dog-contract.html
ReplyDeleteVery interesting that you bring this up, Tal. The yellow-dog contract really helped big business thrive. The yellow-contract was especially important in the case: Adair vs. United States. The background of this case goes like this: A law was passed by Congress in 1898 making it illegal for employers to fire employees solely on the basis of their participation in labor unions. The law basically made the yellow-dog contract illegal. William Adair, a rep. of a railroad company violated the law by firing a locomotive fireman who joined a union. The Court decided in favor of Adair and that banning the yellow-dog contract was unconstitutional.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adair_v._United_States
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1907/1907_293
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ReplyDeleteWow! That's so interesting! I did some research regarding whether this still happens currently. I found that in present day society, these contracts are still in use as seen with Applebee's, Panera, or Chevy's employees. However, a group called the EEOC is working to help these employees receive the freedoms and right that they deserve.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.salon.com/2014/11/07/corporate_americas_oily_trick_how_big_business_uses_yellow_dog_contracts_to_crush_basic_rights/
I found this post very interesting and I did some research on my own. I found that in the 1870s a written agreement containing a pledge to not join an Union was commonly known as the Infamous Document. In 1875 many states declared forcing employees to not join unions illegal and incorporated the Erdman Act.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about this before, but this probably led to more hatred towards immigrants, who would likely sign these contracts freely as it was more opportunity than they had in their homeland. And one can see why an employer would not want to hire someone who will go on strike.
ReplyDeleteAgreed; and also towards the extremely poor people who would be forced into signing the contract because that would be their only way of securing a job. I feel like this would be a way for employers to take advantage of their hires, because the workers would be so desperate.
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