As you can see, the pollution had reached such an extent that rivers were bordering between water, and sewer filth (Faraday). Major company owners such as J.P. Morgan received a bad reputation for exploiting workers, however, not all company owners were cut from the same cloth. It would have been difficult for these owners, caught up in the frenzy of commerce to be omnipresent in all of their factories at one time. As a result, an unsupervised factory owner, much like a tax collector in Biblical times, would take certain liberties, and decide to increase profit without looking to the welfare of the labor force (The Industrial Revolutionists).
The Robber Barons forced the workers to work very long hours for very little pay. The workers were kids from the age 6 to 13, and they were usually immigrants. The reason they hired immigrants was because they would take any money, so the Robber Barons payed them much less then if they were to hire a working class American
This [trust] resulted in the discharge of a large number of laborers who had to suffer in consequence . . . The most distressing feature of this war of the trusts is the fact that they control the articles which the plain people consume in their daily life” (Document E). Finally, the cruel punishment of the workers in the workplace is seen in the previously mentioned, “Concentration of Industry, and Machinery in the United States,” Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. “They [the labor class] reproach the machine with exhausting the physical powers of the laborer; . . . [t]hey reproach it with demanding such continued attention that it enervates, and of leaving no respite to the laborer, through the continuity of its movement . . .
The factories furthered the divide between owner and employees creating “a class division and social strife” that many Americans thought they left behind in Europe (Feller
The infamous men did not follow the few safety regulations that were in place at that time. Considered the “worst shop,” these avaricious owners cared nothing for their workers safety and only for making profit. The despicable owners thought of the workers as replaceable machines, and if broken, could be easily replaced (Document 18 and Document 23). Many people claim that the turning point in American history was on March 25, 1911 when a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the The Shirtwaist Factory. Due to the nature and position of the fire on the eighth floor, the workers had little to no chance of escape.
Captain of industry were owners who sought the benefits of production for the greater good. Like building railroads to modernize transportation or improving working conditions for employees. Robber barons were those who only saw industrializing as profit and would monopolize for their own benefit. It was problems like this that caused Americans to change socially. People were forming union labors, muckrakers were exposing private industustries, and organizations were winning their fight with
(Document A) These rich businessmen also hated the idea of unions, and even insulted them because they wanted to extend hours with less pay, the opposite of what the unions wanted. An example of one of these businessmen insulting the unions was Henry Clay Frick, president of Carnegie Steel in 1892 who said “...I will never recognize the union, never, never” (Document D) These problems still aren’t fully solved today, there are still wealthy business owners that blame the poor for being poor, and dislike labor
Labor Unions such as the American Federation of Labor advocated for better working conditions. Such was stated by Samuel Gompers, who was the leader of the American Federation of Labor and was a strong advocate for human rights and the protection of workers from being abused (document 6). Through protests and advocacy, they were able to gain some od their rights from the companies they work for and their efforts increased their quality of life. In addition, many were able to advocate for their rights in the workplace by voting for political party candidates who supported this issue, such as the “People’s Party” (document 5). This party advocated for workers’ and lower class rights and fought against oppression and poverty.
Employers wanted to be seen as humans, and not just a piece of machinery that can be replaced. Employers refused to give their workers suitable conditions to work in, and a higher pay wage. Employers demonstrated that their workers meant nothing to them, and that they could easily be replaced. Workers were forced to give up their old ways, and adapt to the cooperation’s new ways. This made workers depressed, and pushed them to make a change.
In greek mythology, the titan Prometheus had a reputation as being a clever trickster and he is famously known for giving human race the gift of fire and skill of metalwork. Prometheus gave the clay bodied, made by Zues, the breath of lif. At first men and women survived with very little and ate raw meat and hunted with wooden weapons. Zues was happy with this because it meant that no one could ever have a chance of overcoming him. Prometheus grew to like mankind and wanted them to grow more powerful.
When money and profits are the most significant in the capitalist society, the employers treated their workers poorly, such as excessive working hours and received lower wages. The exploitation of
Profits for the farmers were getting smaller and smaller due to the increase in prices for the goods to be sold. These farmers believed in many different things- they believed in rules and regulations for the road (which included the fact that the government should control the railroad), lower tariffs, and that money should be based off of silver standard. For the industrial workers, their working conditions were not ideal. Each worker did not get paid nearly enough to support them and their families, even though they worked ten plus hour days, six days a week. Workers were not paid for sick days or injury.
During the Progressive Era, most employers were not concerned with workers rights and focused more on profit than human rights or safety. The poor working class, as well as immigrants who had worked in the United States for a while, became infuriated over the unfair treatment and working conditions of which they suffered. Hugh Rockoff explains, “…industrialization had alienated the workingman…” (Rockoff 747).
The work was also dangerous with not much supervising by the government. Workers, on the other hand, had little or even no bargaining power to leave the unsafe conditions. Nowadays, When Americans only pay attention when extreme work strike, levels of abuse are the norm hidden in the factories around the globe. Although the condition seems much improved, consumers don’t know the true fact- “Today, American citizens simply cannot know the working conditions of the factories that make the products they buy.
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.
