The document discusses several topics related to the American worker including: - A brief history of slavery and its abolition by the 13th amendment. - The establishment of the GI Bill in 1944 to support veterans returning from WWII with educational and vocational benefits. - Current statistics on the U.S. labor force such as over 11 million undocumented workers and 57% of women participating in the workforce.

1. The American Worker

2. The American Worker
Child Labor
G.I. Bill
Women in the Workforce
Work Conditions
Worker Benefits
Slavery

3. The American Worker
US Department of Labor
*Source – US Department of Labor
• Administers & enforces more than 180 federal laws
• Major focus areas:
• Employee benefit
security
• Unions & membership
• Employee protection
• Wages & hours
• Safety & health
• Workers
compensation
• Established acts
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4. The American Worker

5. The American Worker
International Labor Standards
*Source – International Labor Standards
• International Labor Standards, est. 1919
• Developed & maintained a system of standards
• Promote opportunities for both males & females:
• To obtain decent, productive work
• In conditions of freedom, equity, security &
dignity
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6. The American Worker
Fair Trade
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7. The American Worker
Fair Trade
• Organizations:
• Fair Trade USA
• Fair Trade Federation
• World Fair Trade
Organization
• The ‘Conscious Consumer’
• Values:
• Empowerment
• Integrity
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Excellence
• Personal Development
• Community
• Fairness
• Impact
*Source - Fair Trade USA
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8. The American Worker
National Labor Relations Board
*Source National Labor Relations Board
• Independent federal agency, est. 1935
• Safeguards employee rights
• Remedy unfair labor practices by:
• Employer
• Union
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9. The American Worker
Labor Day
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10. The American Worker
Labor Day
*Source US Department of Labor
• Dedicated to the social & economic achievements of
American workers
• 1st Labor Day was Tuesday September 5, 1882 in NYC
• Central Labor Union
• 1st State to pass it as law – Oregon, Feb 21, 1887
• Became a legal holiday June 28, 1894
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11. The American Worker
Labor Day
*Source US Department of Labor
• Original form of observance &
celebration:
• Street parade (show of strength
& spirit)
• Followed by a festival
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12. The American Worker
Unionization

13. The American Worker
Unionization
• End of WW II, one in three workers had union card
• In 2012, one in nine workers had union card
• First to unionize were skilled workman in craft unions
• Collective bargaining, strikes, lockouts, work conditions,
job security, seniority, supervisor relationships, benefits,
dues, less autonomy, equality……
*Source - Duffy, F. (2015). Labor Unions.
Research Starters: Sociology (Online Edition)
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14. The American Worker
Minimum Wage
May, 14, 2012, ABC News
$7.25
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15. The American Worker
More Information & Resources
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16. The American Worker
Slavery

17. The American Worker
Slavery
• 1619, first African slaves arrive in Virginia
• Estimated over 300,000 African slaves brought to US
• 12 Presidents owned slaves, eight of them while in office
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*Sources – Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database
& The Hauenstein Center, Grand Valley State
University

18. The American Worker
Slavery
• 1865, passed by Congress on January 31, & ratified
on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment
abolished slavery in the United States and provides
that…
• "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall exist within the
United States, or any place subject to their
jurisdiction."
*Source – National Archives
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13th Amendment

19. The American Worker
G.I. Bill
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20. The American Worker
G.I. Bill (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act)
• June 22, 1944, signed by President FD Roosevelt
• Subsequent editions - Montgomery Bill & Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Considered one of the most significant federal
legislations (required a tie-breaking vote!)
• Since being passed, more than 124 million tax dollars
have been paid to more than 22 million veterans &
dependents
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*Source – US Department of Veteran Affairs

21. The American Worker
G.I. Bill (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act)
There were 10 key ingredients:
• Educational opportunity
• Vocational on-the-job training
• Readjustment allowances
• Home, farm and business loans
• Review of discharges
• Adequate health care
• Prompt settlement of disability
claims
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversity
for all resources *Source – American Legion
• Mustering-out pay (removed from
the bill after it was enacted
separately)
• Effective veteran employment
services
• Concentration of all veterans
functions in the Veterans
Administration

22. The American Worker

23. The American Worker
Undocumented Workers

24. The American Worker
Undocumented Workers
• 11.3 million in 2014 (3.5% of nations population)
• 60% are in CA, TX, FL, NY, NJ & IL
• 5.1% of the labor force
• >60% have resided in the US at least 10 years
• Most hold jobs in the least desirable conditions
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*Source – Pew Research

25. The American Worker
Worker Conditions/Benefits
*Sources – Mother Jones

26. The American Worker
Worker Conditions/Benefits
• Work longer hours:
• 137 more than Japan; 260 more than Britain; 499 more than
France
• 70% of children live in households where all adults are employed
• Only country in the Americas without paid parental leave
• Only industrialized country with no mandated annual leave
• No federally mandated sick leave
• 3rd most productive per hour behind Germany & France
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for all resources *Sources – Multiple

27. The American Worker
College Students
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28. The American Worker
College Students
• The more students engage in educationally purposeful activities,
the more they learn (Kuh, et al. 2007)
• Average approximately:
• 14.7 hours study
• 9.9 hours paid work
• 25.1 leisure
• App State expects 2-3 hours per assigned class time engaged in
coursework
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*Source – National Survey of
Student Engagement

29. The American Worker
Gender Equality
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30. The American Worker
Gender Equality
• 57% of women participate in
the workforce
• 70% of women with children
under 18
• Primary breadwinners:
• 34% black women
• 18% all families
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*Source – US Department of Labor
• 2012 - women were 58% of the
labor force
• Wage gap of 21.7% in favor of
men
• Most common occupations:
• Administrative assistants
• Teachers
• Nurses

31. The American Worker
Gender Equality
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Key Initiatives

32. The American Worker
More Information & Resources
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