La Follette Committee facts for kids
The La Follette Civil Liberties Committee was a special group in the United States Senate that looked into how some employers tried to stop their workers from joining unions. This committee, officially called the Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee Investigating Violations of Free Speech and the Rights of Labor, worked from 1936 to 1941. It started because the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was investigating companies that avoided collective bargaining (when workers negotiate together for better pay and conditions).
Between 1936 and 1941, the committee released many reports. These reports showed how companies used secret methods like industrial espionage (spying on workers), private detective agencies, and people hired to break strikes. They also found that companies used weapons in worker disputes and formed groups to stop unions. Robert M. La Follette, Jr., a Senator from Wisconsin, led this important committee.
What the Committee Discovered
The La Follette Committee investigated five major detective agencies. These included the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and the William J. Burns International Detective Agency. Many of these agencies tried to destroy their records when they knew the committee was looking into them. But enough evidence remained to show a clear picture of their secret activities.
The committee found that Pinkerton had spies "in practically every union in the country." For example, out of 1,228 spies, there were 5 in the United Mine Workers, 9 in the United Rubber Workers, 17 in the United Textile Workers, and 55 in the United Auto Workers (UAW) at General Motors.
The committee reported that from 1933 to 1937, there were 3,871 labor spies working. Companies like Pinkerton and Burns were hired to sneak into labor unions. The committee concluded that spying was "the most efficient method known to management to prevent unions from forming." It also weakened unions that had already started and even destroyed them when they tried to use their power.
The committee explained how this spy system worked:
- It put the employer right inside the union's meetings from the very beginning.
- Employers knew when organizers came to town.
- They knew which employees joined the union.
- They knew all the union's plans and activities.
- It was as if the employer was running the union themselves.
Even though the committee's investigation didn't lead to many new laws, its findings made the public very angry. It brought a lot more attention to the problems and complaints of workers.
Committee's Beginning
The La Follette Committee was formed after the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 was passed. This Act aimed to create a better system for managing relationships between unions and employers. It also set up the National Labor Relations Board. Heber Blankenhorn of the NLRB helped start the La Follette Committee and worked with it for four years.
Senator Elbert Thomas of Utah, who was the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, chose Senator La Follette Jr. to lead the new subcommittee. La Follette Jr. came from a well-known political family. His team included talented researchers, investigators, lawyers, and writers. They became an important government group that supported workers during the New Deal era.
Investigating General Motors
The La Follette Committee's investigation into General Motors (GM) showed the difficulties workers faced when they tried to organize. GM was known for unfair practices, especially spying. The committee decided to investigate events in Flint, Michigan, even before it was officially formed.
The committee wanted to show the public how GM was treating its workers. They got direct reports about anti-union groups in Flint. The reports also confirmed that local police were involved. They had their own spy system to watch "sit-down strikes" (where workers stay inside the factory but stop working) in the state.
The committee began its hearings on General Motors on February 15. They wanted to build public support for the United Automobile Workers' (UAW) strikes. During the hearing, it was revealed that 52 GM employees were spies. They reported on union efforts to the company.
Even though GM's labor-relations director tried to hide evidence, the company reported spending over $839,000 on detective services between 1934 and 1936. The hearings included testimony from former spies and UAW organizers. Joseph B. Ditzel, an organizer, spoke about how GM denied workers their rights. He couldn't rent a hall to speak to workers in Saginaw. In Bay City, a group of toughs held him in his hotel room. He was constantly followed in Flint, and his car was even hit, sending three organizers to the hospital.
The committee's hearings showed how much GM spent on spying. They also highlighted the company's unfair labor policies and how badly workers were treated. This publicly showed the injustices against the union. The Senate then debated the committee's findings. Senator Key Pittman of Nevada proposed a resolution based on the committee's work. Joseph Robinson added an amendment to this resolution. It criticized employers who tried to stop collective bargaining and used unfair labor practices. With this new amendment, the Senate approved the Pittman resolution with a vote of 75 to 3.
