What social events helped to create the need for the development of unions? Solution Unions started first in Europe, where they were much more radicalized than in USA. Often socialists controlled organized labor in Europe, and they were more political, forming socialist parties there, that were often banned, or harassed, up until WWI. In USA, unions were banned by the courts interpretation of Interstate Commerce, they were called \"conspiracies\" to interfere with interstate commerce. Workers had to organize secretly, and union members could be fired. (sometimes beat up) What they wanted was a fair wage, and some control over their working conditions. They wanted bathroom breaks, lunch periods and an 8 hour work day. They wanted their jobs to be more permanent. Often managers used to hire workers by the week, even day. Workers lined up to work, two hrs before a plant opened it\'s gates, and it you didn\'t get to front of line, you wouldn\'t be hired for that day, or week. Employers adjusted the daily workforce, depending on daily needs of the plant. There was no sick leave, or vacation time, nor overtime. Often employers treated employees worse than slaves. If labor protested, they\'d be fired, but even worse, they could be put on \"black lists\" and no future employer would hire a \"trouble-maker\", someone who wanted to be treated human. In USA, the labor movement went a different route, less political, and more directed at striking, work stoppages, and gaining collective bargaining rights to set working conditions, that should be negotiated \"in good faith.\" It wasn\'t until the Wagner Act of about 1935, that Unionization was officially recognized by law, and then workers could enforce their labor contracts in courts. .

1. What social events helped to create the need for the development of unions?
Solution
Unions started first in Europe, where they were much more radicalized than in USA. Often
socialists controlled organized labor in Europe, and they were more political, forming socialist
parties there, that were often banned, or harassed, up until WWI.
In USA, unions were banned by the courts interpretation of Interstate Commerce, they were
called "conspiracies" to interfere with interstate commerce. Workers had to organize secretly,
and union members could be fired. (sometimes beat up)
What they wanted was a fair wage, and some control over their working conditions. They wanted
bathroom breaks, lunch periods and an 8 hour work day.
They wanted their jobs to be more permanent. Often managers used to hire workers by the week,
even day. Workers lined up to work, two hrs before a plant opened it's gates, and it you didn't
get to front of line, you wouldn't be hired for that day, or week.
Employers adjusted the daily workforce, depending on daily needs of the plant. There was no
sick leave, or vacation time, nor overtime.
Often employers treated employees worse than slaves. If labor protested, they'd be fired, but
even worse, they could be put on "black lists" and no future employer would hire a "trouble-
maker", someone who wanted to be treated human.
In USA, the labor movement went a different route, less political, and more directed at striking,
work stoppages, and gaining collective bargaining rights to set working conditions, that should
be negotiated "in good faith."
It wasn't until the Wagner Act of about 1935, that Unionization was officially recognized by
law, and then workers could enforce their labor contracts in courts.