Highly acclaimed and widely read since its first publication in 1986, American Workers, American Unions provides a concise and compelling history of American workers and their unions throughout the twentieth century and during the first decade of the twenty-first.

Taking into account recent important work on the 1970s and the Reagan Revolution, the fourth edition newly considers the stagflation issue, the rise of globalization and big-box retailing, the failure of Congress to pass legislation supporting the right of public employees to collective bargaining, the defeat of legislation to revise the National Labor Relations Act, the emasculation of the Humphrey-Hawkins bill, and the changing dynamics of blue-collar politics.

In addition to important new information on the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the fourth edition contains a completely new final chapter. Largely written by Timothy J. Minchin, this chapter provides a rare survey of American workers and their unions between 9/11 and the 2012 presidential election. Gilbert J. Gall presents new information on government workers and their recent battles to defend workplace rights. An extensive collection of bibliographical material will be made available online.

Praise for Previous Editions:

"A helping of sober truth about the American labor movement and its politics."--New Oxford Review

"A valuable, comprehensive, and peerless survey of modern American labor history."--Labor History

"A balanced, intelligent introduction to the historic themes of modern American labor relations."--Labor Studies Journal

"One of the best concise surveys of American labor history."--Enterprise and Society

"Highly readable and surprisingly concise."--Journal of Social History