A historical record of the 1914 industrial relations hearings in Los Angeles, this book shows how open and closed shop disputes were discussed in public inquiry.
It captures questions about union activity, employer associations, and the processes used by the commission to uncover facts.
Two short sections frame the scope and tone: analysts, lawyers, and witnesses debate the motives behind labor organizing, the costs of wages, and the lived realities of workers and employers. The material focuses on real people and events, offering a window into early 20th‑century labor relations without drifting into speculation.
What you’ll experience
- Direct testimony and cross‑examination about unions, employer groups, and their goals.
- Insights into how payrolls, wage scales, and labor costs were discussed in hearings.
- A sense of the procedural style of the commission, including how questions were framed and answered.
- References to notable figures and institutions involved in Los Angeles labor debates of the era.
Ideal for readers of labor history, industrial relations, or legal history seeking a documentary view of how open and closed shop controversies were explored in a major city’s public inquiry.