Final answer:
Employers opposed labor unions through lobbying to outlaw collective bargaining, creating open shops, employing strikebreakers, and establishing company unions to weaken independent union power. Legislation like the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 supported unions, while the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 restricted union activities. Despite challenges, unions still managed to achieve negotiation successes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Employers took various steps to fight labor unions, particularly during the early 20th century in the United States. They lobbied government officials to outlaw collective bargaining and advocated for the propagation of the American Plan, which prioritized individual worker contracts over collective agreements. This was interpreted by union leaders as an attempt to weaken collective bargaining power.
Business owners also resorted to methods like establishing open shops, using strikebreakers, and implementing yellow-dog contracts. During this period, unions faced additional obstacles such as racial and ethnic divisions among workers. Company unions were introduced by employers as a strategic way to show responsiveness to worker needs without empowering independent unions.
However, the labor movement had various successes as well. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 was a significant legislative victory for unions, but it was later undermined by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which made the legal climate less conducive for unionization. The act restricted several union activities and allowed states to pass 'right-to-work' laws while also permitting the President to delay strikes that could impact national interests. Despite these setbacks, unions continued to negotiate for worker benefits, as seen in the labor disputes involving port operators and shipping companies in 2015, where federal involvement facilitated a resolution.