Essay on The Development of Trade Unions for the Unskilled

During this time pay was low and working conditions were very bad. People were working in factories for large companies. These issues combined to make many workers unhappy with their position in life. They wanted a much better deal for themselves and they thought that unions were a good way to achieve that. It was in this way, industrialization led to the rise of labor unions.

Labor union were crucial in the late 1800’s when the workers were working long hours, doing hard work, without any extra pay. Job security (could be fired at any given time) and safety precautions did not exist in this era, jobs in this day was typically a threat to the workers due to the bad working conditions. When the union was formed in 1866 it was not easy, but if the workers understood how it would benefit them it would have been a greater successes. Due to lack of education, the communication between the union and the works was broken. Some of the religious beliefs created a hardship on getting the union passed. One of the unions called the AFL (American Federation of Labor) was created in 1881 that would try to fight for workers’ rights.

The eighteenth century and Enlightenment Movement ended with many disgruntled Londoners expressing their opinions through radical printed media and riots. In comparison, the end of the nineteenth century consisted of more unhappy London civilians expressing their grievances through strikes and protests. One of the larger strikes carried out by women demanding safer working conditions and better treatment was the Match Girls Strike. The Match Girls Strike occurred at the Bryant and May factory in Fairfield Road when Annie Bessant, a socialist editor for The Link, exposed the horrendous working conditions being covered up at the factory. The women, young Irish girls, often worked extremely long hours with little pay. Their pay was also deducted for minor infractions that included dropping matches, tardiness, speaking, and even using the bathroom. Additionally, many of the working girls suffered from extreme negative health effects due to the phosphorus used at the factory including hair

In the early days of trade unionism, there was a direct need for workers to be represented, in areas such

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 1800s is characterized with the rise of industrial America. As technological advances were introduced to industry, unskilled labor also rose in accordance to the rise in factories. However, this rise also introduced several labor unions such as the Knights of Labor, which organized a series of protests and riots. The labor unions had good intentions, aiming to lower the average work hours for workers, as well as increase their wages. However, their methods which involved riots and protests, were altogether not effective, and ended up being detrimental to their cause. Between 1875 and 1900, labor unions surged and were temporarily successful; however, their methods would prove detrimental to their cause overtime, leading to their

Unions were formed to protect and improve the rights of workers. Their first order of business was to establish the eight-hour workday and in 1866, the national labor union was formed. Labor movements were around before 1866, but few organized up until this point. Unions created an environment for workers with difficult tasks, creating better pay, safer work conditions, and sanitary work conditions. Unions made life better for many Americans in the private sector. Collective bargaining became the way in which employers and a group of employees reached agreements, coming to a common consensus. From 1866 to the early 1900’s Unions continued to make headways increasing membership and power. The real gains started in 1933 after several pieces of legislature, which saved banks, plantations, and farmers. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) proposed an important, and controversial, amendment to the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. It insisted that language from the pro-labor Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 be added to the simple declaration of the right to collective bargaining. The setbacks the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) suffered in Little Steel and textiles in the latter half of 1937, and in Congress from 1938 to 1940, despite the gains made by the AFL, by 1940 the amendment had stalled. WWII created a rapid buildup within the industrial complex, creating more work for women and African Americans, overshadowing the union’s inability to project their power

Because of this, the Colored National Labor Union was created by blacks themselves but the differences did not allow them to work together. The National Labor union strongly advocated for eight hour workdays. Another union called the Knights of Labor emerged that first began as a secret society. Their purpose was to include all workers in “one big union.” They allowed everyone: blacks, whites, men, women, the skilled and unskilled. Terence V. Powderly led this union to win several strikes for an eight- hour day. Unfortunately, the Knights of Labor were involved in a violent protest called Haymarket Square. They were mistaken to be associated with anarchists and this brought them to their downfall. Finally, a successful union shows up called the American Federation of Labor (AFL), founded by Samuel Gompers, which only allowed skilled workers. In the end, usually the management won with the strikers having little improvement.

As more industries integrate in the cities, the more people flock to the already cramped conditions. Cities created an illusion of economic opportunity and independent freedom to draw young willing workers. However, when most arrived in the cities the only opportunities were factory or industrial jobs. Subjected to deplorable conditions not only at the job site but at most housing facilities, the industrial workers sought out change. Groups of industrial workers craved to start labor unions to improve pay and the working conditions. In 1866, the National Labor Union (NLU) was formed, advocating for more than just improved conditions. In 1869, the Knights of Labor union was also formed, the first to be undiscriminating in whom joined. These unions were one way in which the industrial workers reacted to the new ways of industrialization. Another example in which the workers

The coal miners’ strike of 1902, was a big impactful move that ended because a federal takeover was threatened by President Roosevelt. The women's trade union league was middle and upper class women and immigrants founded to bring women workers into unions, this was established in 1903 and reiterates the main ideal of the era by fighting for all workers’ equality. In 1907 there were 10,000 black and white dock workers that initiated a strike and showed remarkable unbiased solidarity, this occurred in the town of New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 1909 uprising of the 20,000 garment workers, an unprecedented victory was accomplished for the international ladies’ garment workers’ union.

In the late eighteen hundreds, machines started to take place of people in industries. Work became unskilled labor, or labor that requires zero to little experience. Not soon after, the economy crashed and left millions out of work. Workers who got to continue working had their wages cut. By 1877, railway workers had enough of the wage inequity and went on strike. This was known as the Great Railroad Strike. From Pennsylvania to California, railroad systems had workers leave their posts. Not long after the strikes, state governments started calling for Federal troops to take down the activity. Though the majority of the middle class agreed with the strikers motivations and reasoning, they were disappointed in the damage that occurred.

The workers for companies during the Gilded Age often made little money for their work, and on top of this, most were not pleased with the working conditions their bosses put them in. This led the formation of labor unions in many companies, who would push for more rights within the workplace, and often times higher wages. Future issues became clear as tensions rose between business owners and unions as conditions got worse, wages were cut, and hours became longer. Many unions reached the breaking point and went on strike, where no one within the union would go to work until their demands are reached. Many times, the business owner would fire the union members, and hire new ones for there were plenty of people looking for work. In 1892, the

Workers during the Industrial Revolution had hoped for benefits, such as health, cleaner working conditions, better pay, and less working hours. Industrial workers often felt overworked because of the long, stressful hours placed upon them by their employers. Labor unions began to emerge as a result of the long hours and awful working conditions. These workers were locked up all day in factories that were eight stories high. They were given absolutely no relaxation until the heavy engine stopped. After leaving work, they would go home to get refreshed for the next day. This left these industrial workers with no time for association with their families.

The rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system in the United States made the rise of unions inevitable; given the natural division between those with capital that control the means of production, and labor, who is treated simply as another factor of production (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008). While labor unions have made significant improvements to the working environment, with the regulation of safety, environment, labor and wage; labor unions have also contributed to the decline of U.S. dominance in industries like steel, automotive, education and airlines. In today’s global economy, can labor unions continue to be a force for good in the United States, or have they become harmful institutions?

What was the short term significance of the Match girl strikes. In 1888, a disturbance in east London caught the public eye, as around 1400 women and teenagers left their place of work at Bryant and May’s factory. The strike had occurred due to mounting tension between the owners and workers after the publication of Annie Besant’s findings about the conditions in which these women worked in. The Match Girls strike of 1888 had great significance in the short term as its success highlighted the importance of organisation in striking, the importance of gaining support and sympathy from others, the importance of leadership during the strike, and the significance of the Matchgirls in regards to their exposure of the hazardous working conditions