Final answer:
The AFL-CIO merger in 1955 reduced internal conflicts but did not increase union membership or political influence due to structural changes in the economy, legal challenges, and public perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the merger of the AFL (American Federation of Labor) and CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) in 1955 has minimized raiding between the two organizations is true, but the assertion that it has not led to an increase in union membership or political influence is also true.
After the merger, creating the AFL-CIO, there was indeed a reduction in conflict between the two labor entities. However, despite the merger, the new AFL-CIO experienced a steady decline in the overall percentage of workers within their organization.
Factors contributing to the decline included structural changes in the economy, such as the rise of white-collar jobs over blue-collar work, and businesses moving operations to less union-friendly locales. Even though the AFL-CIO handled disputes with employers more through legal arbitration and less through striking, this change in tactics did not equate to growth in union membership or political clout.
A nationwide strike by half a million steelworkers in 1959, despite its success in obtaining concessions, actually damaged the public's perception of unions. The unions' opposition was seen as a barrier to technological innovation and efficiency, and the strike led American businesses to rely more heavily on overseas production.
Additionally, U.S. laws such as the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 made it more challenging to maintain strong union membership.