The Decline of a Cooperative, Union Controlled Grievance Procedure: The Case of the Columbus Typographical Union, 1941-1992

Between 1941 and 1992, the Columbus Typographical Union's grievance procedure underwent a change from a cooperative, union-controlled system with peer review as an important core feature, to one that became more adversarial and typical of industrial union procedures. Key factors outside the immediate employment relationship were largely responsible: the industrialization of Columbus, federal labor policy, technological changes, industry restructuring, and general changes in printing industry labor relations practices. Few unions had as much shopfloor power as the typographers; few union members enjoyed more democratic rights in the workplace. Despite this, the union suffered tremendous losses. Thus, for unions, this case study shows that cooperation with management in unstable, changing social environments can be a very risky undertaking, especially if they do not pay proper attention to their larger environment.