The Lexicon of Labor: More Than 500 Key Terms, Biographical Sketches, and Historical Insights Concerning Labor in America

by R. Emmett Murray

The Lexicon of Labor features informative descriptions of over 500 key places, people, and events in American labor history. From Eugene Debs to Cesar Chavez, the Haymarket Riots in 1886 to the Teamsters/UPS strike in 1997. Emmett Murray provides brief, fascinating sketches of this vital part of the American experience. The Lexicon of Labor also includes explanations of major legislative acts, definitions of key legal terminology, and complete listings of all the member unions of the AFL-CIO and independent unions in the United States. A practical, handy resource for students and journalists, and an ideal introduction to the history of labor in America.

Genres: Labor, Language

207 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be an interesting, breezy read for people interested in American labor history. It is laid out in a glossary form, and presents compact histories behind well-known phrases and people (i.e. the Taft-Hartley Act, Eugene Debs, merit pay, etc.) This contains the information that you would probably find in a Wikipedia entry, but here it is all in one place.

[Sam Whitehill · Rating 3 out of 5]

As engaging as a dictionary of labor terms could be. I learned some interesting factoids (the word strike means “to take down sails”, which comes from an early labor stoppage of sailors), but also found myself zoning out and skimming large portions.

[Kate Seader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand. Very helpful in expanding labor vocabulary and connecting related terms together. I read the first edition and would love to get ahold of the updated version