Before the structured labor society that we live in today, America was a very different working world; one plagued with injustice and grievances from workers across the job sectors. Two organizations, the Knights of Labor and later the American Federation of Labor acted as activists for reform and demanded better standards for working, living, and life for workers. Their strategies and success in achieving their goals were as different as the organizations themselves. Coming from a time of segregation and social divide, the Knights of Labor stood out as one of the most accepting labor unions of the age, which largely accounted for their membership to reach almost 800,000 members during its peak. All workers in a trade were included, regardless of their skill level.
In Quote 2, Morton Bahr speaks of the role that unions have played in shaping the America that we know today. He references government programs and regulations that have helped America’s entire working class. I believe that the benefit that the labor movement has provided for workers is that it has brought us closer to being able to realize our potential as full human beings, rather than solely suppliers of labor for capitalists. I agree with Bahr that union members need to return in our thinking to that of previous eras when many of the gains now taken for granted were made. I would go further to say that specifically we need to fight with the goal of ensuring that all workers can fully experience our humanity.
Additionally, there were conflicts within the union, resulting in many people organized strikes against the head of the union’s wishes. Many of these strikes were ineffective, creating a greater unrest within the union. The unions and management of large businesses, always struggle for power in the workplace. Many workers work in poor conditions, paid low wages and long hours. The workers believe that if they go against the management in large groups, they might be strong enough to gain a say in their workplace decisions.
Labor union is the organization of workers who come together to achieve common goals. Unions came into picture in 18th century due to the imbalance in the rights of workers in regards to owners. Knights of Labor were the earliest large scale union in United States organized in 1869. They sought equal work for equal pay including blacks and women. This union peaked in 1880s but was soon replaced by American Federation of Labor.
I believe that unions were created for a reason. They were created to help be a voice for the workers in the workplace. We need to keep unions because otherwise the problems unions have solved would find their way back and history will repeat itself. Some people may argue that the Wagner and Taft-Hartley Acts conflict with some of our Core Democratic Values, including Liberty and Justice. “Liberty is the power to act as one pleases (source: merriam-webster.com).”
The union was successful in getting workers higher wages, job protection,
During the Great Depression, there was a dramatic decrease in labor union members as unemployment rates rose notably. Although it seemed like the labor movement was over, the movement would soon strengthen and expand in numbers and power with the start of the Roosevelt administration and legislations from the New Deal. Ever since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution era, there had always been conflict between the working class and employers as workers suffered poor wages, bad working conditions, and long hours. Labor unions, such as the Industrial Workers of the World believed “The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life”.
An in depth analysis of the factors that led to the rise of labor unions in the United States only reveals that the basic need and the primary objective of the workering people was to secure economic and legal protection from their exploiting employers. The origins of the
Labor unions arose from the outcry of the working class after being subjected to borderline dehumanizing conditions of the workforce. Workers were treated as disposable waste capable of performing tasks and lacked the respect they deserved. There was a general disregard for the working man, woman, and child, and it was evident through their pay, working hours, unsafe working conditions, sexism, racism, or age. Take note, as well, that many of these conditions were tolerated first out of desperation and pressure from incoming immigrants. Otherwise, surely strikes and unions would have risen sooner.
The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (FOTLU) of the US and Canada (1881) changed it’s name to American Federation of Labor in 1886. They formed because they wanted unions to be free from political groups and to be more focused on the worries of the everyday workers. The unions were made up of “craft” unions, a labor organization that brings together workers of a particular craft or trade to form a union, who were unhappy with the leaders of Knights of Labor. The Knights of Labor wanted local craft unions to exit from their international organizations and work with the Knights directly, which would help bring funds to the Knights of Labor. Forty-two delegates, 13 national unions, 12 local unions and city labor council members
Although unions may not have been directly responsible for the passing of these laws, their impact certainly brought the deplorable conditions of numerous companies into the sight of the public. In addition, unions provide and continue to provide consistent benefits for their members. The EPI expresses that union members are significantly more likely to receive health insurance from their employers, as well as pension plans and paid vacations (Walters, Mishel). Maternity and sickness leaves are also a vast improvement from the callous, uncompassionate business leadership of the past. Unquestionably, unions have improved the working situations of the everyday employee both in the past and the
A labor union is a group of money earners that come together to promote and defend the interests of its members with respect to earnings and working conditions. Labor unions deal with employers on the behalf of its members through a process known as collective bargaining. In the United States, the first labor unions were on a regional level, when shoemakers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, organized in the 1790s. Terrible working conditions in the 19th century led to worker conditions. Employers fought back against the strikes by issuing demands, hiring private detectives and engaging in other dispositions.
He only decided to settle down and raise a family after he was given job security by becoming a teamster. He was a proud member of the Freight Division for decades until he was stricken with Legionnaire's disease. Even then, unions were there for our family by providing the substantial health insurance that allowed my grandfather to be taken to specialists who treated the disease.
From my point of view from personal family experience labor unions can be life impacting in positive ways. Through the union my family has been blessed with full coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance. My dad has a great retirement plan set up and in action and I even have received a scholarship through his local Union which has helped me out through my first year of college. From the point of view from a union member child labor union are life changing as one has impacted my family’s lives for fifteen years and still does
Trade unions may also provide legal advice, financial assistance, sickness benefits and education facilities to their members. Trade union membership has been decline across the industrialized market economies in recent years. Decline in membership is due to largely to common developments such as a decline in employment in traditionally manufacturing industry and the growth of service employment and increasing levels of employment. The trade union’s main aim is to protect and advance the interest of its members in the workplace.
