The labor movement caused quite the stir with the government as well. The unions were facing harsh criticism from both the anti-union groups and the government. The Red Scare also played a major part in the outcome of this movement. A major fear of communism swept over the country in the 50s. People assumed the unions would be crawling with communists who had planned to disrupt the national and local economies by encouraging workers to go on strike and promoting violence against large companies. In truth, these unions were organized in an attempt to gain the rights the workers deserved. Membership within the unions often caused tension between the workers and bosses, leading to uneasy relations and feelings towards each other, communist or not.