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Craft unionism, or sometimes trade unionism, is a labor union organizing method by which labor unions are divided along the lines of workers' specific trades, regardless of what industry they work in. It contrasts with industrial unionism, in which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union
In the United States, craft unionism is perhaps best exemplified by the unions which came out of the old American Federation of Labor (which merged with the industrial unions of the Congress of Industrial Organizations to form the AFL-CIO). Under this approach, each union is organized according to the craft, or specific work function, of its members. For example, in the building trades, all carpenters belong to the carpenters' union. The plasterers join the plasterers' union, and the painters belong to the painters' union. Each craft union has its own administration, its own policies, and its own union halls. Contracts may be negotiated with individual employers. The primary consideration is betterment of the members of the particular group.
One advantage of craft unionism is acceptability to the employer. The prevailing craft union philosophy often seems to be one of "junior partnership" with the company for which members work. This comfortable relationship is typical, though not universal. By marketing itself as a moderate and limited voice for workers' rights, many craft unions have built the American Federation of Labor into the predominant union federation in the United States. Given the choice of unions, employers have historically preferred to deal with the AFL-CIO.
Craft unions typically negotiate contracts which include the dues checkoff and the no strike clause. The dues checkoff facilitates collection of dues, but allows the employer to handle union funds. The no strike clause has been criticized as "selling labor peace" to the companies. For the duration of the contract, the no strike clause prevents the unionized work force from walking off the job.
Because craft unions are separated by craft, there are frequently multiple unions in the same workplace. Typically their contracts will expire at different times. This sometimes results in one group of unionized workers being confronted with the choice of crossing the picket lines of another union, or facing discipline for honoring the picket line.
Many AFL-CIO unions organize groups of working people who are already working for, or are subsequently hired by, an employer. Thus, the employer retains a great deal of influence over who becomes a union member. When union members leave a particular employer (with a few exceptions) they must also leave the union.
While not a function of specific organizational principles, AFL-CIO type unions have tended to rely upon representation rather than mobilizing their members, and lobbying government officials rather than exercising the direct action which is the hallmark of industrial unions such as the Industrial Workers of the World.
There probably is no longer a "pure" craft union, in the sense that a few of the principles of industrial unionism were brought into the AFL-CIO with the CIO. Modern AFL locals sometimes include different skilled groups. Race and sex are no longer the barriers they once were in AFL unions.
At the same time limitations of craft unionism have become apparent, and there are ongoing efforts to transform the AFL-CIO. Critics will assert that these reforms won't go far enough to address shortcomings that undermine what they believe is the real goal of the union movement-- real empowerment of working people.
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