Recommended: Impact of zero hour contract on employees
There was an abundance of workers, and the items they were producing were being found in homes across the country. Industry was making a lot of money, but due to the number of able workers, these same companies believed that they did not need to treat them well. The workers were putting in ten to twelve hours a day, five and a half, or six days a week (p. 9). The working conditions
Before the days of labor laws and unions, there was a time in which laws were not able to keep up with a rapidly changing industrial economy. As machinery and technology advanced, so did the possible amount of revenue being generated. Unfortunately, this machinery made it so unexperienced workers, such as children and teenagers, could work hours on end creating products. With little legislation in place, these vulnerable workers were exploited in factories and mills. Many individuals, such as Florence Kelley, called for change by creating speeches that would be presented in large conventions and rallies.
Businessmen and factory owners could hire children because they could pay them less than women, which women got paid even less than men. On average, the children would be paid about a dime for a ten to fifteen hour long day. These children were working with heavy, steel machines, making their jobs so dangerous that they would lose fingers, toes, limbs, or even their lives. Also, little education is seen “In the urban tenement picture from Encarta Online Encyclopedia, where the children are not at school. This could mean it is a weekend, but the ration is slim.
and they receive no severance pay if they are let go without warning. Many don’t have cars, making it hard to get to work when public transportation isn’t running. Those who
From 1875-1900, America was beginning to rise up from the increase in industrialization. However, dubbed “the gilded age” by Mark Twain, the thriving promise of a better , wealthier life in America was not as it seemed. When labor unions rose to change the harsh working conditions placed on workers, it seemed to be that they found little to no success. This was brought on by the little change that they made, the suffering and hardships they brought on themselves and others, and the little support they received from those around them. Although labor unions were able to change some conditions, most of those changes were minimal.
Working longer than twelve hours a day would be considered preposterous for the average worker in modern-day America. Industrialization, however, forced hundreds of men, women, and children alike to work for sixteen hours daily. A poem by an unknown author states that “[before] dawn my labor drives me forth tis night when I am free” (Document 2). Workers have to get up even before dawn to begin their work, and they don’t return until late at night. This was particularly difficult for the women workers, as they were still expected to cook, clean, and care for the household even after working interminable hours of labor.
How would you like to work for little to no pay and over 60 hours a week? In today's day in time some people would call that abuse or over work, but that’s exactly what was going on in the 1870s and 1880s. This is where the labor movement started, with people being over worked and little to no pay. As you can imagine people started to get upset with how things were going so that started violent outbreaks along with strikes all across the United States. In the 1880s, a group was formed to help the working man, this group was called the Knights of Labor.
The interviewee, William Cooper informed the interviewer who was a member of the Sadler Committee, that he had begun working at the age of ten in mills, and the work was not at all easy. William, when asked how long he normally worked, explained, “We began at five in the morning, and stopped at nine in the night.” (Cooper). This quote demonstrates that everyone, even children, worked long, hard hours and had a very short break, “one period of forty minutes in the sixteen hours” (Cooper), to be exact. Apart
During the Progressive Era, there were many issues surrounding labor, the food industry,and trusts. The Labor Union began to protest for better working conditions and hours, along with child labor laws. The Federal Government and the reformers had to act, and bring about reform through the nation. But the real question is whether or not they were effective in doing so. One of the main issues of the working industry that came to light was the terrible state of the meat packing industry.
Stated in The Factory Act of 1833, they say, “ The factory act of 1833 was a major accomplishment for the proper rights of child workers. With this act, children who worked in factories would now be given more safe regulations. Some of the new laws that would focus on the youth in the factories were no child workers under the age of nine, children are not to work at night, two hours schooling each day…” (Weebly). In other words, Factory Acts allowed rights to child workers and it limited their work hours.
For example, the woman who testified before a parliamentary committee to abolish child labor described her working hours, saying that her job required her to work “From 5 in the morning till 9 at night, when they were thronged” (Document 7). These long hours do not permit time for receiving an education, spending time with their families, or getting to play as children should. Also, the woman includes in her testimony that the children were thronged while they worked, which means that, if the children did not perform as demanded, they were treated harshly. These children were expected to do copious amounts of work, equal to what an adult was capable of doing, while receiving much less pay and much more chastisement if they did not perform as well as expected. For example, the testimony of Elizabeth Bennett states that doffing was, in fact, a laborious employment, ultimately not affecting the workers’ poverty.
Child labor was a great concern in the Industrial revolution but very few people did something to stop it. Women and Children were forced to work more than 10 hours a day with only forty minutes to have lunch. Elizabeth Bentley once said that they didn’t have any time to have breakfast or drink anything during the day. They worked standing up and if they didn’t do their work on time they were strapped (whipped). Children were treating like they were not important, like they didn’t deserve a better life.
Part of CIS remit is to give attention to identify, analyze and research on social policy issues of local and national level. My observation shows that the current socio-economic situation is in desperate need for developments in many areas and almost every social policy issue is a high priority. This assignment identifies social policy issues in the area of employment rights showing limitations and disadvantages for those employed under zero-hour-contracts. Assignment shows evidence, influences and impact of the policy work on the policy itself.
But not all work done by children should be accepted as child labor. In other words, if a work doesn’t harm child’s health or personal development (educational issues), it is generally accepted as something positive and useful. Such activities develop children’s skills, provide experience and formulate them to be part of society. The term “Child Labor” is when children do work that damages their health or hamper mental or physical
The term labour relations, refers to the system in which employers, employees and their representatives (management) and, the government who all interact and work together directly and indirectly to set the ground rules for working relationships inside and organization. labour relations has its roots stemming from the industrial revolution, where we saw the emergence of trade unions to represent workers and their rights. A labour relations system reflects the interaction between the main actors in the organization namely the government, the employer, trade unions and employees. Well set out labour relations in an organization safeguards fair labour practices, as well as contributes to long term success within the organization. There are multiple advantages to the Labor Relations Act, all of these advantages are put into place in order to protect the well being of the employee as well as the employer both on a fair and equal basis.
