Buy essay on Compare unions in the 19th century, in the era of 1930-1975, and in the free trade era of recent decades.

The role of unions in the 21th century is not much spoken about, though the role of unions in the 19th and 20th century is so important. It is necessary to point out the historical view on the unions development, and also to show a forward looking view about unions, discuss the role that unions are likely to play in the changed economic environment of the new century.
Labor unions began to appear in the United States in the 18 century, but mostly as an important social and economic trend it appeared in the 19 century. Unionism started in the 19 century with the coming of the industrial revolution, and the progression of the Industrial Revolution and the formation of labor unions go hand in hand. (Marten Estey)
Being an important part of social and economic life, an important part of capitalism era, unions began to have more and more power. Unions began to organize organizations that could have more power and influence. For example, in 1905 an organization Industrial Workers of the World was established, that inspite of it was short-lived, this union introduced the sitdown strike and mass picketing, that were very effective ways of influence.
The history of labor unions in the 20th century is the history of the rise and fall of an American institution. (Markley Roberts).
Unionism moved to a central position in the American economy, it was widely spread, internationally strong trend. Of course, in the era of 1930-1975 unions had not good times, as they had lost their political and social power due to certain changes in law, and also unions were not so numerous, they had really hard times after the World War II.
An analysis of the development of the labor union movement in recent century should point a change in increasing international influence, as now it has great number of international union organizations, global unions and their international recognition: International Labor Organisation (ILO), Labors International Union of North America (LIUNA). It is also important to point out the International Labor Support Organizations (Worker Rights Consortium, International Labor Rights Fund, U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project) and Labor Research Organisations.

Works cited:
1. Markley Roberts. “The role of unions in the American economy”. AFL-CIO American Federationist, The. FindArticles.com. 20 Apr, 2010.
2. Marten Estey. “The Unions”. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1998.
3. Masters, Marick F. “Unions at the Crossroads”. West-port, CT: Quorum Books., 1997