Unionism: Its Development in a Social Service Agency, Bureau of Attendance, 1962–1964 The Union: Attendance Teachers Chapter, United Federation of Teachers, Local #2, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO The Agency: Bureau of Attendance, New York City, Board of Education

Background and Timeliness of the Study. Unionism in the United States is an accepted fact. The anxiety and turmoil that union organizers aroused in the general public and the image that this public had of unionism is now a thing of the past. The tenets of unionism; e.g., the right to organize and join a union of one’s choice, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to strike have been recognized by society. As a result of our collective experiences, including our feelings toward unionism, certain attitudes are generally accepted within our society. We recognize that organization, collective bargaining, and the strike are reality factors. Yet certain groups are excluded from enjoying some or all of the foregoing on the ground that it would be severely detrimental to the public good. It is generally recognized that factory workers may strike but this right is not granted to government employees, and some professions, such as nursing, have voluntarily given up their right to strike