This article attached below is a reflective essay that assesses the strength of comments made by Christopher L. Tomlins in his book The

State and Unions (1985), which looks back over the past quarter century. Various predictions were made concerning union

decline and failed revival efforts as well as counterfeit rights offered to the U.S. working class.

Using all of the knowledge accumulated in this unit and in previous units, write a critique of the article. You may use other

academic resources to support your points as necessary. Your critique must be at least three pages in length.

Your critique should address the questions below.

What are the author’s main points?

Do the arguments presented by the author support the main point?

What evidence supports the main point? For example, if Tomlin’s thesis that the New Deal offered only a counterfeit

liberty to labor is true, what effect does that have on employee morale?

Briefly describe two collective bargaining strategies companies use when dealing with unions. How can these strategies

affect employee morale?

What is your opinion of the article?

What evidence, either from the textbook or from additional sources, supports your opinion?

Be sure to follow the guidelines below.

Accurately identify the premise and supporting points from the article.

Provide an insightful and thorough analysis of the information from the article, including using evidence as well as

reasonable and compelling interpretations.

Link material to course content and real-world situations.

Organize the material logically by using smooth transitions and by grouping similar material together.

Cite all sources used; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA format.

Information about accessing the grading rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Answer preview

This retrospective essay on Tomlins’ The State and Unions assesses the
durability of his observations in light of developments over the past quarter
century. The decline of unions in the context of minimal protections offered
under contemporary labor law seems to fit Tomlins’ thesis that the New Deal
offered only a counterfeit liberty to labor. A brief review of failed efforts at
union revitalization demonstrates that labor’s waning fortunes are as much a
sign of institutional rigidity and internal weakness as result of external
constraints. Any current semblance of liberty offered to the U.S. working class is
indeed counterfeit, but the source of fraud is the full set of neoliberal economic

600 words