Final answer:
The American labor movement opposed communism and unionization being linked to socialism, especially during the Red Scare, as it conflicted with the values of upward mobility and individual work ethics. Labor leaders emphasized the difference between collective bargaining and socialism, but were stigmatized by anti-communist government actions, such as the Bisbee Deportation and HUAC investigations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American labor's case against communism is rooted in its support for the idea of individual upward mobility and the notion that unionization could lead to socialism, which was viewed as counter to American values, particularly during the Red Scare. The conservative federal government and employers adopted the American Plan to challenge unions, associating them with foreign radicalism and questioning their legitimacy. Labor strikes were feared to be a step toward Bolshevik revolutions, a sentiment depicted in political cartoon iconography of the time.
Distrust in collectivism was amplified by historical events such as the French Communards' actions in 1871. American workers, influenced by the free labor ideology, generally believed in working for employers who treated them fairly rather than embracing collective ownership. Labor leaders tried to distinguish between collective bargaining and socialism, but a hostile political climate and limited resources compared to industrialists hindered their efforts.
Meanwhile, Stalin's 'red quislings,' within the context of the labor movement, would be perceived as insidious elements aiming to subvert American labor for communist purposes, surfacing tensions within the labor movement about collective action and political alignment. This perspective was only intensified by the government branding of union leaders as un-American during actions like the Bisbee Deportation of 1917, and in later investigations by entities such as HUAC.