THE THEORY AND STRUCTURE OF INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM

BY

NINA HARBOUR

A THESIS SUBLITTED FOR
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS

The University of Wisconsin

1920

CONTENTS

Chapter I

Marxian Economics and Its Influence on the Labor Movement.

Roots of industrial unionism are in economic doc-

trines of Karl Marx. Materialistic conception of

history and doctrine of the class struggle as set

forth by Marx. His labor theory of value. Theory

of surplus labor. Industrial unions almost invari-

ably subscribe to the doctrines of Marx. Acceptance

of the theory of class struggle leads to class-con-

sciousness, Class-conscious unions expect to take

possession of the industry. The industrial union is

the class struggle organized in the industries.

Chupter II

The W. I. I. U.

1. Analysis of the Industrial Situation.

Increasing relative poverty. Concentration of

wealth and of the management of industry into the

hands of the few. This results from the working

class being stripped of the ownership of the means

of production, due to the invention of machinery.

Results of the development of machine industry as

they affect working men; as they affect employers.

These conditions breed the class struggle. The

craft union is inadequate to cope with trusts. In-

dustrial unions are necessary. De Leon's conception

of the political State.