The early history of labor unions in the United States is fraught with

Question

The early history of labor unions in the United States is fraught with incidents of corporate intimidation, subversion, and hooliganism. Not surprisingly, most early unions failed quickly and dramatically. One of the few successful unions in the early history of the labor movement (a period beginning in the late nineteenth century) was the Telephone Operators’ Union (TOU) of Boston, a union that succeeded at a time when the American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) monopoly was crushing unionist movements throughout the nation. An even more noteworthy aspect of the TOU, however, is that its membership and leadership were made up almost entirely of young women.

Why did Boston’s telephone operators’ union succeed while most other operators’ unions (and unions in general) failed? First, Boston was the home of the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL), whose elite, college-educated membership provided counsel and support. Second, the women of the TOU were natives of Boston, a city that, at the time, had an extremely parochial world view. Boston politics reflected this, giving the operators a political advantage over AT&T, which was perceived by Boston’s movers and shakers as an “outsider.” Finally, the TOU’s members were young, middle-class, and so clearly in the political and cultural mainstream (photographs of the operators show that many affected the “flapper” look that was then coming into style) that it was impossible for AT&T to portray them as “dangerous radicals,” a strategy that had been effective in other situations.

Ultimately, the TOU succumbed to a high turnover rate among its rank and file and an internal split that disastrously divided its membership. Still, the TOU achieved major victories in its prime, and left an indelible impression on American labor by inspiring the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to establish a department for telephone operators, thereby affording them their first opportunity to organize on a national level. The IBEW allowed its operators’ union to run semi-autonomously, holding independent conventions and electing its own officers. The national union was also dominated, from the rank and file up to its president, by women.    1 
 1. According to the last paragraph, which of the following is true of the TOU?

A. The TOU had a lasting effect on the unions of America.
B. The TOU was divided by internal strife into two separate unions.
C. The TOU is still a successful union today.
D. The TOU was revitalized by a high turnover rate among its members.
E. The leaders of the TOU achieved major victories in its waning years.

2 
 2. The author mentions Boston's "extremely parochial world view" in order to

A. emphasize the fact that big business was not welcome in the city
B. show that Boston had a political climate in which the TOU could succeed
C. stress the narrow-mindedness of Boston's political leaders regarding union movements
D. explain why the TOU's membership was made up of young women
E. present the views of the members of the TOU in a geographical context

3 
 3. According to the passage, the fact that TOU members were "so clearly in the political and cultural mainstream" worked to their advantage because

A. it meant that TOU members would marry and retire early, providing the union with a high turnover rate
B. it allowed the WTUL to introduce more easily a feminist political agenda to the union's demands
C. the members were then more integrated into Boston society, giving the operators a political advantage
D. it made it more difficult for opponents to attack them with propaganda techniques that had previously been successful
E. the "flapper" look that was then coming into style allowed them to be perceived as insiders

4 
 4. The author offers all of the following as possible reasons that the TOU succeeded at a time when other workers' unions at AT&T failed EXCEPT:

A. TOU members were considered "insiders," while AT&T representatives were seen as "outsiders," in Boston's political circles.
B. TOU members projected a mainstream image.
C. The membership of the TOU had a high turnover rate.
D. The WTUL lent the TOU organizational assistance.
E. Union-busting strategies used by AT&T in similar situations proved ineffective with the TOU of Boston.

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 310 Date: 11-Aug-2021
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2021 .  Click here for Details

DHRJ0032 · Answer

Para 1: emergence of TOU has been described.Despite the failure other unions, TOU survived and thrived.

Para 2:reasons for the success of TOU has been described

Para 3:although TOU succumbed to high inventory rate, it achieved success in its prime.

Opinion:implied opinion)

TONE:Slightly positive towards TOU

1)B
2)B
3)D
4)C

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The early history of labor unions in the United States is fraught with

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The early history of labor unions in the United States is fraught with

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