LABOR LEGISLATION

BY

JOHN R. COMMONS, LL.D.

PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
FORMER MEMBER INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN AND
UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I: THE BASIS OF LABOR LAW

1. THE LABOR CONTRACT

CHAPTER II: INDIVIDUAL BARGAINING.

I. THE LABORER AS DEbtor.

(1) Servile Labor

a. Slavery

b. Serfdom

. c. Peonage

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(2) From Master and Servant to Employer and Employee 40

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(6) Mechanics' Liens and Wage Preference

3. THE LABORER AS TENANT

(1) Classes of Agricultural Workers

CHAPTER III: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

1. THE LAW OF CONSPIRACY

(1) Origins of Collective Bargaining

(2) Doctrine of Conspiracy

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(4) Restrictions on Employers and Employees

(5) Justification of True Collective Bargaining

3. COERCION BY GOVERNMENT

(1) Restrictions on Strikes and Lockouts

(2) Development of Coercive Intervention

a. England

c. Canada and the United States

4. UNIONS OF Government EMPLOYEES

(1) Recognition of Unions

(2) Cooperative Employment

CHAPTER IV: THE MINIMUM WAGE

1. ECONOMIC BASIS

(1) Low Wage Scale

(2) Economic Weakness of Low-Paid Workers

2. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

(1) Australasia.

(2) Great Britain.

(3) The United States

3. STANDARDS.

(1). Australia

(2) Great Britain.

(3) The United States

a. Definition of the Living Wage

b. Wage Losses from Unemployment

c. Profits of the Business .

d. Substandard Workers

4. METHODS OF OPERATION

(1) Flat Rate Laws

(2) Wage Board Laws

5. RESULTS

(1) Changes in Wage Rates

(2) Changes in Wages above the Minimum

(3) Effect on Unemployment

(4) Effect on Industry

(5) Effect on Trade Unionism

(6) Effect on Efficiency

6. CONSTITUTIONALITY.

a. Public Work

b. Private Employments: (a) Transportation;
(b) Mines and Tunnels; (c) Factories and