Labor’s Struggle under Fordist and Post-Fordist Industrial Relations Systems in the 20th and the 21st Centuries

Under Fordism circa the 1920s to the 1970s, the predominant US worker organization was the trade union comprised of primarily males in manufacturing utilizing collective bargaining for obtaining workplace improvements. When impasses transpired, labor’s struggle involved economic strikes. In the post-Fordist era, other worker organizations emerged. Moreover, labor’s struggle now involves many more women and workers of color in service industries employing tactics beyond traditional strikes. The three volumes considered in this review essay analyze labor’s struggle under Fordism and post-Fordism. One book discusses tremendous trade union growth occurring under Fordism which was severely weakened through the labor Left’s elimination. A second monograph analyzes dual power organizations established during the 2018–2019 red state teacher strikes in the post-Fordist era. Finally, a third volume examines labor’s struggle and resistance methodologies under post-Fordism. In the 21st century, labor’s struggle will include various worker organizations utilizing collective actions beyond traditional strikes.