Labor Worker DBQ

The issues that face workers is ever changing, in modern times a lot of the original issues seem to have been solved. Long hours, have been be replaces with mandated working hours defined by law, safety issues can be covered by OSHA, age limits again are decreed in law. Comparing modern day America to 1800’s America and the stark contrast in working conditions creates room for a strong argument opposing Unions and any tangible outcome they may produce besides lining their own pockets

Labor unions have existed in one way or another since the birth of our country in 1776. They were created in an effort to protect the working population from abuses such as sweatshops and unsafe working conditions. From the start of our Nation there were a few unions organized unions in a scattered fashion, but many were disbanded after they had achieved their goals, such as when the printers and shoemakers briefly unionized in Philadelphia and New York City in 1778 to conduct the first recorded strike for higher wages. Three years later in 1971 the first successful strike happened, when Philadelphia carpenters campaigned for a ten-hour workday. This caused the need for skilled and unskilled laborers to skyrocket during the Industrial Revolution and the Civil War and also got the ball rolling with Labor unions. At this point in our Country, there had been nothing done yet for workers’ rights, conditions, pay, and so on. People at this time saw that they could come together and do something to make their lives better for themselves and their families. Many of these dates were important in shaping our country’s labor policies into what they are today. In 1847 New Hampshire enacts as the first state to enforce a 10-hour workday law. In 1909 the International Ladies’ Garment workers’ Union calls a strike in New York, demanding a 20-percent raise and a 52-hour workweek. Within two days, more than 20,000 workers from 500 factories walk off the job. This largely successful uprising

The mill workers felt that they simply did not have any other options and feared the punitive steps management would take if they unionized. Indeed, this appeared to be the case. When several employees expressed a tentative interest in the union, management reduced their work days, and, consequently, their pay. The mill’s management used many other scare tactics to try and persuade employees to reject the union.

Despite being able to cause a small improvement in workers’ pay and hours, labor unions ultimately died out by the 1900s due to their methods. Unable to truly focus on the plight of skilled workers, most labor unions instead focused on that of unskilled workers, pushing aside the skilled workers. (Doc D). The actions of labor unions ended up being counterproductive, forcing companies to wage war against the labor unions. These stricter contracts such as that of Western Union Telegraph Company, forced workers to affiliate themselves against labor unions. (Doc E) One important thing to note is that the workers’ rights advocates were never able to coincide on one factor. As evidenced in an illustration in 1887, labor unions had to compete with other movements such as socialism, anarchism, and other labor unions. (Doc F). Because of this, the media, although recognizing the labor union movement, began viewing the labor unions as dangerous entities. Although the initial strikes such as the Wabash strike were successful, the ones that followed proved detrimental to the movement, and caused the steady decline of the labor unions. Because some of the strikes were dangerous, many strikes resulted in the deaths of those involved, such as the Homestead Crisis, and Pinkerton (Doc G). Combined with events such as the Wildcat strike, Haymarket strike, the Pullman Strike, the public began to associate a negative

In labor as in all things there is strength in numbers it is this strength that American labor unions provide. Labor unions provide a collective voice for those who had not previously been heard. As the professor in the “Frustrated Labor Historian” Dr. Horace P. Karastan is left with the dilemma what are the three most important events in American labor union history it would be difficult to choose with so many important moments. There are however several events that stand out as being turning points in giving employees unquestionable protections. The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 allowing employees the right to organize. Further the Wagner Act protecting employees from reprisal from employers for organizing spurring the growth of unionization. The Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959 building on the Wagner Act as well as the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 which granted protections from the unions. It is these Acts that have changed the landscape of American labor union history and leave us with the unions that we have today.

One strike that helped to further this feeling was the Pullman strike. When the workers shut down the railroad it shut down the western half if the country and stopped the economy. This brought dislike from government, businesses, and the people. Document A shows one side of the story, with an editorial from the New York Times. Within this article it said that the riots were nothing but “rash and spiteful demonstrations.” This editorial also showed the other side of the argument calling the workers bold and determined for standing up and trying to make their lives better. Many people did not agree with the stikes and the violent scenes that often took place after. Most disagreed with the sentiments of Samuel Gompers and the leaders of other unions. In Document H, Samuel Gompers talks of how the factories are constantly changing and making improvements and if the employees do not strike how they will be left behind and walked upon. He talks of how the United States was not created without suffering and struggling and so the workers must fight for what they wanted. Finally, as shown in Document E, the people did not take kindly, to the labor unions and what they were trying to do. They saw that they all had different goals and were all trying to get

They were not willing to make any concessions. They wanted them to continue with the long hours as mandated by them. If the workers didn’t agree to these terms they would be fired. Employers knew that people needed jobs and were not concerned about filling vacant positions. In today’s age, if you’re working that many hours we believe that we should get paid for what we worked. They felt they same way, but because of the union they didn’t receive those rights.

“I regard my workpeople just as I regard my machinery...When my machines get old and useless, I reject them and get new, and these people are part of my machinery” (Sands 12). A foreman at a textile mill in Fall River, Massachusetts spoke these words in possibly the worst time during American labor history, the Industrial Revolution. During the Industrial Revolution, large numbers of people in the United States flocked to work in factories where they faced long hours, unsanitary and unsafe conditions and poor wages. Labor unions, or groups of organized workers, formed in the United States to ensure workers the right to a safe workplace and a fair wage in the face of capitalistic factory owners seeking wealth. In exchange, union

     The past of Unions is indisputable; however, the outlook can be altered to form a promising future. The reversal of history can be done through reconstruction and restatement of workers rights. A reestablishment of worker liberties should be considered in order to clarify any confusion in which present and prospective employees are faced with. Unions are notorious for being tyrannical and inconsiderate towards employees and thus union heads should confront this issue head on and give workers a voice (i.e. vote). In order to regain union strength in today’s society I believe Unions must give workers honorable rights and a democratic right to be heard.

Early skilled workers feared they were losing their status among the forced workers, so they formed unions to help protect themselves. In the beginning unions dealt with serious legal problems, they were accused of unlawful conspiracies like trying to petition pay raises. In 1842 Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in Commonwealth vs. Hunt that forming a union was not illegal, and that workers could strike if their employer hired non-union workers.

Following the Civil War, the United States went through a series of changes that forever shifted the direction in which the country was heading. The industrial age was at its peak and affecting every American throughout the nation. One of the biggest groups to be affected were the industrial workers, whom were both negatively and positively impacted by labor unions, technological changes, and immigration. During this time period, the working class lived a rough life.

The rise of the Big Business transformed rural America to an industrialized urban nation that became to be known as the Gilded Age. During this time most Americans worked 10 to 16 hour shifts, 6 days out of the week with a wage that was below the poverty line. Even though they worked extremely inhumane hour shifts, it was barely enough for them and their families to survive. During this era men, women, and children performed harsh labor in factories and mills until their bodies could bear no more. Throughout the age of the big business, children as young as 8 years old were put to work and were denied the chance to go to school, there was no benefits, no medical coverage, and if the workers became injured while on the job it was overlooked and was seen as if nothing had happened and were fired and replaced by someone else. Workers were being taken advantage of, but they realized something had to be done in order for change to occur, so they unionized. An important factor they acknowledged was that there were more workers than owners so unions were created. During this period of time unions were extremely needed in order to improve working conditions, protect workers, and fight for higher wages. Likewise, Unions were successful, because during this time the seed was planted toward unity and as of today we can appreciate safer working conditions, higher wages, and more opportunity.

Labor unions were organizations established within companies and businesses that fought for the representation of employees on the job. A lot of labor unions weren’t specific to a certain job, but many did exclude women and black people. A prime example of this was the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The AFL was one of the most successful labor unions in the U.S. and more than 60% of their sponsored strikes were successful. The AFL lost power after a private army created by Henry Frick, a manager at Carnegie Steel’s Homestead facility, stopped the strike. As time progressed, “public opposition” to the way that employees of big businesses and factories were being treated increased, and that is what sustained the unions. Most unions had the same goals: they wanted higher wages, reasonable work hours, and less dangerous work conditions. Some labor unions also wanted to stop child labor, give health benefits, and provide aid to workers injured on the job. While most labor unions weren’t successful in getting everything that they wanted, they did get the attention of the American government and eventually things began to get better for workers. Today we have workers compensation, minimum wages, and health benefits, so we see that things did eventually get better for

The labor union movement over the years has shaped the way individuals work and live for both the nicest and unpleasant. Some would think the unions influence has created a power struggle between management and union leaders. In today’s time, some citizens insist the existence of unions are a must to aid in employee freedom, while others view the labor unions as just another problem in the line of progress. The purpose of labor unions was for employed workers to come together and collectively agree on fundamental workplace objectives. The rise of the union came about after the Civil War- responding to the industrial economy. Surprisingly at the least unions became popular within the 1930-50’s and began to slowly decrease,

The point of a union was to unite workers against careless employers to make it hard for the employer to continue to carry on business and force them to recognize their errors and hopefully make necessary changes. However, the federal government mostly backed wealthy industrialists and often ruled against workers who went against the system. Lack of effective governance greatly contributed to the dangerous and poorly kept work environments. Employees were not provided any type of safety net or alternatives for if they were injured or killed while performing their jobs. There was no job security, minimum wage or legally required safety measures for the workplace. The uneven distribution of wealth in America didn’t help the working class either. Most industrial workers were faced with poverty making barely enough or less than enough to sustain a decent living and forcing more women and children to enter the workforce. Large numbers of children and women were forced to obtain jobs to help support their families