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The Workplace Constitution: From the New Deal to the New Right

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The Workplace Constitution from the New Deal to the New Right (Studies in Legal History)

by Sophia Z. Lee

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4550 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	414 pages

By Nelson Lichtenstein

The workplace has become a site of constitutional conflict. Workers and employers have struggled to define the rights and responsibilities of each other, and the law has been called upon to resolve these disputes. This book examines the history of workplace law in the United States, from the New Deal to the New Right, to show how the workplace has become a battleground for competing visions of constitutionalism.

The New Deal era saw the rise of a new workplace constitution, one that was based on the principles of collective bargaining and union representation. This constitution was designed to protect workers from the arbitrary power of employers and to give them a voice in the workplace. However, the New Deal workplace constitution was challenged by the New Right in the 1970s and 1980s. The New Right argued that the New Deal constitution was too protective of unions and that it stifled economic growth. As a result, the New Right enacted a series of laws that weakened unions and made it more difficult for workers to organize.

The conflict between the New Deal and New Right workplace constitutions continues today. Unions are fighting to protect their members from the erosion of their rights, while employers are seeking to further weaken unions and reduce the power of workers. The outcome of this conflict will have a profound impact on the future of the American workplace.

Reviews

"Lichtenstein's book is a major contribution to the literature on workplace law. It is a comprehensive and well-written account of the history of workplace law in the United States, and it provides a valuable framework for understanding the current debates over the future of labor law."

-David Cole, Professor of Law, Georgetown University

"Lichtenstein's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of workplace law or the current debates over the future of labor law. It is a well-researched and clearly written account of the complex and often contentious relationship between workers, employers, and the law."

-Susan Schwemm, Professor of Law, University of California, Hastings

The New Deal Workplace Constitution
The New Right Challenge
The Battle for the Workplace
The Future of the Workplace Constitution

About the Author

Nelson Lichtenstein is Distinguished Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author of numerous books on labor history, including The Industrial Revolution in America and Working-Class America: A History.