It was in the late 1890s that an "Era of Good Feelings" began, encouraging some AFL (American Federation of Labor) leaders to accept overtures from a new group of corporate moderates.
Due to the combination of a more integrated corporate community, continuing labor strife, and the return of prosperity after three years of depression, an "Era of Good Feelings" between employers and workers began to emerge.
As a result, moderate conservatives in some of the new corporations began to differentiate themselves from their ultraconservative colleagues. They did so by indicating to union leaders that they might be willing to make bargains with them as a possible way to reduce industrial conflict.
Going from a high-water mark of 35 per cent (in the 1950s) to the measly 12 per cent in 2008, national union membership has clearly taken a beating.
Below are three overarching factors that have contributed to the decline of unions (via CounterPunch.org).
1. The hollowing-out of the country’s manufacturing base and, with it, a decline in those industry jobs which, historically, had not only been strongly organized but well paid.
2. Government has assumed custody of key union provisions.
3. Changes in demographics and culture.
Know more about the history of labor movements in the United States from the following links below:
www2.ucsc.edu - The Rise and Fall of Labor Unions In The U.S.
www.history.com - Labor Movement
www.shmoop.com - Ideology in History of Labor Unions
www.apstudynotes.org - Union Organizations