Failed Farm And Labor Organizations In The Late 19Th Century

Failed Farm and Labor Organizations in the Late 19th Century
In the period of 1870–1900, labor unions and organizations were rarely successful in achieving their
goals primarily because of problems with being able to organize large numbers of American
Workers. The rare victories for labor were isolated incidents because there were no labor
organizations on a national or even state–wide basis. The problems with organization arose because
of five major factors – differences in union leadership, divisions between skilled and unskilled
workers, ethnic and racial tensions, and employer, and government and public hostility. The leader
of the Knights of Labor, Terence Powderly, believed that the best means of organization was pooling
a mass membership from unskilled and skilled workers. He stated, "The ... Show more content on
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When strikes would occur, the government took an anti–labor stance in response to the public outcry
against the labor–based extremism and violence. The Pullman strike of 1894 was a strike where
blood was shed forcing a government reaction. Eugene Debs, the leader of the American Railway
Union, led 40,000 Pullman workers in a strike that caused rail traffic to cease in the west. This
affected the flow of mail, which is a federal offense. When federal government used special deputies
to deliver the mail, violence of previously unseen proportions broke loose. The New York World in
1894 reported that the strike was like a "war against the government and society." The strike only
caused controversy and did not help any employee. De Tocqueville has said: "When the people are
overwhelmed with misery they are resigned, it is when they begin to hold up their heads that they
are impelled to insurrection." In addition to internal organization problems, unions also dealt with
outside difficulties from employers and the government. Employers often forbade employees to join
unions with "yellow–dog contracts" or would fire employees who were union–members. Employers
were able to overcome the union 's central weapon, the strike, by replacing strikers with cheap
immigrant labor. The government favored big business and gave employers an extra weapon in
breaking strikes when the Supreme Court ruled in In Re Debs
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Labour Movement Pros And Cons
The Labor Movement generated opposition from both the government and the public since they both
saw unions as violent and lawless. The government used force to control the unions showing their
disgust for the views and actions of these organizations. Well, organized and growing businesses
took the advantage in the struggle with labor, so the workers started labor unions. It is easily argued
both ways whether or not unions formed were beneficial to workers. With great evidence though, it
is proven that although beneficial in many ways, for the most part unions were very negative
towards the progress of our country.
1. The very first labor union, The National Labor Union was started in 1866. This union lasted for
six years and had 600,00 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Then on May 4 labor disorders had broken out in Haymarket Square and the police were called.
Suddenly a dynamite bomb was thrown that killed or injured several dozen people. The people
wrongfully connected the Knights with the Anarchists, and the power of the Knights of Labor came
to a dismal end.
The Homestead strike in 1892 was the first major strike to take place after the downfall of the
Knights. It started at Carnegie's steel plant in Homestead, PA. when workers refused to accept new
wage cuts. Henry Clay Frick shut down the plant and surrounded it with guards to protect the
property. The infuriated workers soon ran the guards out when they realized that Frick had
intentions of reopening the plant with strikebreakers. After a thirteen hour struggle Carnegies
Company persuaded the governor of Pennsylvania to provide help, the state militia was summoned
to restore peace. The company began to bring in strikebreaker to replace employees who had walked
out. Many of the leaders of the strike were prosecuted for rioting and murder. The steel workers'
union was detroyed. Some members of Congress were sympathetic to Homestead strikers. The
public in general felt little sympathy for the strikers because they felt that the working person should
remain free to sell services as an individual and not through a union. Many thought that the right to
work was sacred. They felt that union organizers had no business interfering

Legal Status of Unions
The history of the American labor movement coincides with the development of labor unions in the
United States, from the initial local craft unions like the Federal Society of Journeyman
Cordwainers (shoemakers), to the formation of national unions such as the National Labor Union
(NLU) and the Knights of Labor, creation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and the
Congress of International Organizations (CIO), the merger of the AFL–CIO, and its breakup through
the defection of the national unions that formed the Change to Win (CTW) coalition (Fossum, 2012,
pp. 27–34, 53–54). Paralleling the union development was a series of national labor legislation:
Railway Labor Act (1926), ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
While a labor political party could provide broader support for union members, it would not focus
on the primary concerns of labor members: wages, benefits, and working conditions (Fossum, 2012,
p. 28). While some believe establishment of a labor political party would benefit the labor
movement more than either the Republican or Democratic parties, the reality has never resulted in
an effective national labor political movement (Levitt, 1955). Even national union efforts have not
been entirely effective over time: the American Federation of Labor, the Congress of Industrial
Organizations, the merged AFL–CIO, and now the Change to Win coalition (Colorado State
University–Global Campus, 2014).
Leading Personalities in Labor Relations Contributing to the Definition of Labor Relations in the
United States
Leading personalities in the U.S. labor relations movement included Samuel Gompers (1850–1924),
who helped found and led the AFL for much of the period from 1886 until his death in 1924 (Online
Highways LLC, 2014), Eugene Debs (1855–1926), who led the American Railway Union through
many strikes and helped found the Industrial Workers of the World (Constantine, 1990), Walter
Reuther (1907–1970), who led the United Auto Workers starting in 1946 and was head of the CIO
and negotiated its merger with the AFL–CIO in 1955 (Featherstone, 2014), George Meany (1894–
1980), led the AFL from 1952 until he negotiated the AFL–CIO

The History And History Of Labor Unions
Labor unions date to the 19th century. The three labor unions were created to improve work life in
the factories. Workers had long hours, poor conditions and low wages; while their employers
enjoyed vast wealth. Labor unions are groups of workers and employees who bond together to get
safer working conditions, better wages, and reasonable hours. Most famous union is the American
Federation of labor (AFL), founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. Labor unions protect the rights of
workers in specific industries. Labor unions tend to be more common in manufacturing, mining,
construction, transportation, and the public sector. Labor unions have been around for a long time.
The earlier unions were called craft unions, consisting of members who worked in the same trade
such as carpenters and printers. Working people need to earn enough to support their families; good
wages are a part of that, so are health care, paid sick leave and other rights that make sure that
working people can do their jobs and take care of their families.
The working conditions were terrible factories were not the best places to work. The only light
present was the sunlight that came through the windows. Machines spit out smoke and in some
factories, workers came out covered in black soot by the end of the day. Shifts were usually 14–16
hours a day for six days a week, with extra time required during busy periods. Workers were often
required to clean their machines during their mealtimes. However,

Industrial Workers During The Gilded Age
Similar to the farmers during the Gilded Age, industrial workers combatted poor working
conditions, child labor, low wages, and long hours by forming labor unions and organizing strikes,
ending as a massive failure. Early in the industrial era, there was no minimum wage, leaving it up to
the factory owners to set the rate at which their workers were to be paid. Some owners did not pay
their employees in cash but in company scrip which could be redeemed at the company store. For
example, in Pullman, Illinois and in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the towns were owned by corporations,
the Pullman Palace Car Company and the Hershey Company respectively, so their workers would
receive vouchers to spend at the company store instead of hard cash. ... Show more content on
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Initially a fraternal organization providing social events, sporting competitions, and education for
working men and their families, the Knights of Labor soon advocated for the creation of
cooperatives where members would serve as worker–owners who have input on the running of
factories in hopes of making changes for the better of the working man. The Knights of Labor
believed that the "alarming development and aggression of aggregated wealth, which, unless
checked, will inevitably lead to the pauperization and hopeless degradation of the toiling masses"
could only be stopped "through the unification of labor". The Knights were open to all "producers"
including skilled and unskilled workers and owners as well as women and African–Americans.
Bankers, doctors, liquor manufacturers, lawyers, and stockholders were excluded because of their
supposed lack in productive contribution to society. The union advocated for a national eight hour
workday, the expulsion of Asian workers, the prohibition of immigration from the Far East, and an
end to child labor. The Knights worked to make changes for all workers, regardless of affiliation
with the group, and opposed strikes and boycotts. As the Knights of Labor began to fade away,
another organization arose called the American Federation of

Organized Labor from 1875-1900
The movement in organized labor from 1875 to 1900 to improve the position of workers was
unsuccessful because of the inherent weaknesses of unions and the failures of their strikes, the
negative public attitudes toward organized labor, widespread government corruption, and the
tendency of government to side with big business. After the Civil there was a push to industrialize
quickly, and the rushed industrialization was at the expense of the workers as it led to bigger profits
for big business and atrocious working conditions for them; conditions that included long working
hours, extremely low wages, and the exploitation of children and immigrants. In an effort to
organize themselves to better their situation, laborers created unions ... Show more content on
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The Amalgamated finally called for a strike when Frick announced another wage cut and gave the
union two days to accept it. In response to the strike, Frick shit down the plant and called in guards
from the Pinkerton Detective Agency (well–known strikebreakers) to enable the company to hire
nonunion workers. The mere presence of the hated Pinkertons was enough to incite the workers to
violence. As the Pinkertons approached the Homestead plant by river, strikers prepared for them by
pouring oil on the water and setting it on fire and meeting the guards at the docks with guns and
dynamite. The Pinkertons surrendered after several hours of pitched battle that left three guards and
ten strikers dead, but the workers' victory was temporary. 8,000 National Guard troops were called
in to protect the strikebreakers and production in the plant resumed. Public opinion turned
completely against the strikers when a radical attempted to assassinate Frick. Defeated, strikers
slowly drifted back to their jobs until Amalgamated had no choice but to surrender. Amalgamated
membership shrank from 24,000 to 7,000, a decline symbolic of the general erosion of union
strength as factory laborers became increasingly unskilled, and so increasingly easy to replace.
Public opinion came to reflect the belief that labor unions were dangerous attempts by radicals to
promote, at best,

Persuasive Functions Of John L. LewisSpeech
Persuasive Functions of John L. Lewis' Speech
John L. Lewis was the only proponent of established labor unions in the 20th century. He
successfully led the labor movement that pushed for equal treatment of labor workers despite the
terrible economic condition.
Lewis spent his formative years in Iowa. As an adult, he was unsuccessful in entering the world of
politics and business. After he moved to Panama, Illinois he was first elected president of the local
United Mine Workers union. Next, John L. Lewis was appointed an AFL organizer by Samuel
Gompers in 1911. His second UMW appointment was as a delegate to the AFL Convention in 1916.
Finally, John L. Lewis was appointed as vice–president of the United Mine Workers Union. John L.
Lewis begins to prescribe courses of action for workers to be part of a movement that pushed for a
union and better treatment of workers by organizing and uniting the discontented through saying
they will enact a policy to enable the workers to stand as a unit (Lewis 3). John L. Lewis' speech at
the American Federation of Labor allowed him to become the leader and was ineffective in
convincing the AFL to establish industrial unions. The historical context of this time allowed Lewis
to propose the creation of a labor movement because an economic depression had recently occurred.
The economic depression negatively impacted labor workers salaries and allowed industrial
companies to have inordinate control over workers.
Furthermore, labor unions are

Labor Unions Benefits
The labor union efforts in the United States cultivated out of the requirement to safeguard the
collective interest of the common workers (History.com, 2009). In the industrial sectors, organized
labor unions battled for improved wages, practical hours, and safer working conditions; these
movements led to beneficial efforts to end child labor, give health benefits, and offer assistance to
workers who were injured or retired (History.com, 2009). Their origins lay in the developmental
years of the U.S., when a free wage labor market emerged in the craft worker trades late in the
colonial period. The earliest recorded strike occurred in 1768 in New York to protested a wage
reduction, this lead to the formation of the Federal Society of Journeymen ... Show more content on
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Some economics have contended that globalization is making labor unions ability to demand the
level of compensation that their workers deserve harder because of the threat of outsourcing and the
competition from foreign production (Nahmias, 2013). In some studies, it was found that
globalization has considerably decreased the effects of labor union strength on labor share and
employment rates (Nahmias, 2013). Also, while there is some indication that globalization is
diminishing the ability of labor unions to mandate greater employment protection, there is some
signs that unions are working persistently to protect their members from unemployment through
legislative regulation (Nahmias, 2013). Even though globalization has changed the factors of
production, caused a decline in labor's bargaining power, and weakened the unions; labor unions
have not surrendered and continue to fight for their members (Nahmias,

Essay on Labor Unions
Labor Unions
Labor Unions: Aging Dinosaur or Sleeping Giant? The Labor Movement and Unionism Background
and Brief History Higher wages! Shorter workdays! Better working conditions! These famous words
echoed throughout the United States beginning in "1790 with the skilled craftsmen" (Dessler, 1997,
p. 544). For the last two–hundred years, workers of all trades have been fighting for their rights and
"seeking methods of improving their living standards, working conditions, and job security" (Boone,
1996,p.287). As time went by, these individuals came to the conclusion that if they work together
collectively, they would grow stronger to get responses to their demands. This inspired into what we
know today as labor unions. "A labor union ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
57). In December 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed in Columbus, Ohio.
The AFL was originally named the Federated Organization of Trades and Labor Union back in 1881.
The AFL was a "national union made up of affiliated, individual craft unions" (Boone, 1996, p.
288). The first president of the AFL was Samuel Gompers. On the contrary to the Knights of Labor,
Gompers' focus was to raise day–to–day wages, and continue to improve the working conditions
(Dessler, 1997). After the formation of the AFL, the period included significant developments. In the
early 1890's, the United Mine Workers was formed, becoming the first major United States
industrialized union (Robinson, 1985). In addition, a significant defeat occurred in organized labor.
The defeat is known as the strike at Homestead, Pennsylvania. The "Amalgamated Association of
Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers was eliminated from the steel industry" (Robinson, 1985, p. 58).
History from 1905 to 1920. In 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) challenged the
AFL, prior to the depression of the 1930's. The IWW invited the unskilled and semiskilled workers
that the AFL had denied and was a success from 1910 to 1915 (Encyclopedia, 1996). The results of
this had decreased the AFL membership for a short period of time, but they fought back by bringing

The Knights of Labor Essay
The Knights of Labor represented the pinnacle of the up lift labor movement. They, at one time, had
membership that numbered in the hundreds of thousands and nearly hit a million members. This
organization was unique in its time because it espoused many of the ideals we hold today as
statutory for an ethical and equitable society as well as employee and employer relationships. The
Knights of Labor did not begrudge industry or capitalism, moreover they were less of a concern than
the organization's larger goal to protect and promote social equity in labor and society, for the
common man. The organization was distinctive for is time. There were other labor unions, but the
Knights supported trade craftsmen, common laborers, and worked ... Show more content on
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Today, many of these basic concepts are taken as common practice in the workplace while others are
challenges still facing the employees of today. Child Labor laws were enacted within the 50 years
following the knights. Fighting speculation and outlawing monopolistic practices was addressed
through the Sherman Anti–Trust Act. The 8–hour workday and overtime was addressed under the
Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, the arbitration of disputes between labor and management
advocated by the Knights, has become a cornerstone of conflict resolution for labor relations. The
Knights however, viewed these gains as the end to a means. These gains would be brought about
through raising the working class by raising the intellectual, moral, and social life of the worker
(Budd, 2010). The transition to a collective behavior is at the root of uplift unionism, and is the
cornerstone of the Knights larger agenda. This concept enjoined the ideals of a fraternal brotherhood
and gave the organization an advantage in the ability to relate to the society of laborers who felt
oppressed at the hands of capitalists. It brought to those who joined, a sense of something more than
just a loose association of workers fighting

Labor Union And Labor Unions Essay
Labor union history began when the National Labor Union (NLU) was founded in 1866. After the
creation of this union, several followed after. Many riots occurred during this time, the Haymarket
Riot was one of the main reasons that the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was created. The
AFL will be a major part in the labor movement in the future. Labor unions began due to the need to
protect the workers. These labor unions formed to fight for reasonable hours, better pay, and safer
working conditions. These stipulations that the labor unions pushed for did not come from greed.
Many laborers were dying from different jobs. People were required to work 12 or more hour days,
7 days a week for such a small amount of pay. Due to the overworking of these laborers, it caused
them to make mistakes. Not only were companies over working these people, they were hiring
inexperienced people with little to no training. Thousands upon thousands of people died because of
this. To prevent this from occurring labor unions were created to ne the barrier between a company
and the workers, the unions are there to help negotiate any stipulations the workers may request.
However, after the early to mid 1900's the attendance and membership of unions declined
drastically. In the past 50 years the membership in labor unions have decreased, and at a rapid pace.
There are many reasons why the membership has decreased, but the focus will be on four main
reasons. The first reason being that in today's

Persuasive Functions Of John L. LewisSpeech
Persuasive Functions of John L. Lewis' Speech
John L. Lewis was the only proponent of established labor unions in the 20th century. He
successfully led the labor movement that pushed for equal treatment of labor workers' despite the
terrible economic condition.
Lewis spent his formative years in Iowa. As an adult, he was unsuccessful in entering the world of
politics and business. After he moved to Panama, Illinois he was first elected president of the local
United Mine Workers union. Next, Lewis was appointed an AFL organizer by Samuel Gompers in
1911. His second UMW appointment was as a delegate to the AFL Convention in 1916. Finally,
Lewis was appointed as vice–president of the United Mine Workers Union. Lewis begins to
prescribe courses of action for workers to be part of a movement that pushed for a labor union by
organizing and uniting the discontented. In his speech he mentions enacting a policy to enable the
workers to stand as a unit (Lewis 3). John Lewis used his speech at the AFL convention to establish
himself as the leader of the labor movements and prescribe courses of action for the workers by
altering perceptions of reality and identity.
His speech at the American Federation of Labor allowed him to become the leader, but was
ineffective in convincing the AFL to establish industrial unions.
Furthermore, labor movements were part of the establishment (Jensen 29). Due to the strikes in
labor unions, it was necessary for a new type of labor leader to arise. At

Similarities Between The American Federation Of Labour And...
Erin Marie Magee
The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor were similar in a lot of ways, however
the latter succeeded and the prior did not. These were both union organizations. They consisted of
employees bound together for common goals. Some of these goals consisted of: eight hour work
day, abolition of child labor, equal pay for equal work and income tax reforms. However, there are
some major differences. One difference is that the Knights of Labor accepted men, women, white,
black, skilled, and unskilled workers as members. The American Federation of Labor however, only
accepted skilled workers and required much higher dues. One reason for the American Federation of
Labor requiring higher dues was to sustain the member

Trade Union Federation Research Paper
The three trade union federations I chose are the three national labor organizations that developed
during WWI. They include the American Federation of Labor (AFL), Knights of Labor (KOL) and
the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). I will discuss the efficiency, equity and voice of these
trade union federations, along with the strategies and tactics and their success. KOL The first trade
union federation I'm going to discuss is the Knights of Labor. The KOL did not limit the geographic
location for membership. Power was a big part of the KOL. The members that they attracted could
include ones that were not satisfied with the new industrial revolution. Their goals they established
included changing the current labor–management relationship ... Show more content on
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He did not agree with KOL's opinion on mutual agreements between employees and employers. He
thought that workers could only receive more benefits if capitalism kept growing. This could lead to
mutual interest over it, but not full complete agreements. The tactics of the AFL included economic
pressure tactics for collective bargaining efforts. In the AFL, strikes were considered a collective
bargaining tactic. Another tactic included the involvement in the political arena. The last tactic listed
was to improve the public status and reputation of the collective bargaining process and organized
labor. The organization of the AFL was based on decentralized authority and exclusive union
jurisdiction. They got rid of the one big union and moved on to one union representing each
recognizable skilled craft. This was a voluntary organization where craft unions dominated. Strikes
are viable and there was enhanced public status. They wanted to keep out foreigners, less skilled
blacks and females. Women would receive lower wages than the

The Causes Of The Lawrence Textile Strike
Consider the labor upsurges of the 1910s (in particular the Lawrence Textile Strike) and the 1930s
(in particular the Flint Sit–Down Strike). Compare the causes of the two upsurges, the factors that
promoted workers' collective action, the barriers to collective action, and the roles of "dangerous
radicals." Describe the most important ways that the two are similar and the two are different. In
your view, what are the key factors explaining why the outcomes differed between the two cases?
Category Lawrence Textile Strike Flint Sit–Down Strike Causes+ A cut to workers wages by $0.32
Brutal Working Conditions Striking to win recognition of the UAW Establish a fair minimum wage
scale A grivence system and a set of procedures that would help protect from injury Factors that
promoted workers collective action Establishment of a stable and effective industrial union Stop
sending work to non–union plants; it was the first time a national union had thrown all its weight
behind one of its sections the barriers to collective action Lack of communication because of the
variety of languages spoken Management would only bargain on a plant by plant vasis Roles of
Dangerous Radicals Mill owners and city leaders hired men to foment trouble and even planted
dynamite to try to discredit strikers GM argued that the strikers were trespassing and got a court
order demanding their evacuation Outcome Lawrence Strike Outcome. At the end of ten weeks, the
IWW emerged from the Lawrence struggle as

American Labor Movement: Development of Unions Essays
The American Labor Movement of the nineteenth century developed as a result of the city–wide
organizations that unhappy workers were establishing. These men and women were determined to
receive the rights and privileges they deserved as citizens of a free country. They refused to be
treated like slaves, and work under unbearable conditions any longer. Workers joined together and
realized that a group is much more powerful than an individual when protesting against intimidating
companies. Unions, coalitions of workers pursuing a common objective, began to form demanding
only ten instead of twelve hours in a work day. Workers realized the importance of economic and
legal protection against the powerful employers who took advantage of them. ... Show more content
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The union was originally a secret, but later was open to all workers, including blacks, women and
farmers. Five hundred thousand workers joined in a year. Their goals were an eight–hour work day,
a minimum wage, arbitration rather than strikes, health and safety laws, equal pay for equal work,
no child labor under the age of fourteen, and government ownership of railroads, telegraphs and
telephones. However, the Knights of Labor was a relatively weak organization, and eventually fell
apart. (www.planetpapers.com/ Assets/306.shtml, 2)
In 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AF of L) was formed and replaced the Knights of
Labor. Its leader was former cigar union official Samuel Gompers who only wanted to focus on
skilled workers. (www.planetpapers.com/Assets/306.shtml, 2)
The founders were quoted as saying, "the various trades have been affected by the introduction of
machinery, the subdivision of labor, the use of women's and children's labor and the lack of an
apprentice system so that the skilled trades were rapidly sinking to the level of pauper labor. To
protect the skilled labor of America from being reduced to beggary and to sustain the standard of
American workmanship and skill, the trade unions of America have been established." (AFL–CIO
American Federationalist, 1) The AF of L was a conglomeration of twenty–five unions that included
three hundred thousand workers working for increasing wages, reducing hours, and

Labor Day Essay
Labor Day is a dedication to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It
constitutes a yearly national acknowledgment to the contributions that workers have made to the
strength, prosperity and well–being of our country. It has evolved from a purely labor union
celebration into a general "last fling of summer" festival. The origin and deeper meaning of the day
has been forgotten, or never actually known to many.
The beginnings of the American Labor Movement started with the Industrial Revolution. Once
factory systems began to grow, a demand for workers increased. They hired large amounts of young
women and children who were expected to do the same work as men for less wages. New
immigrants were also employed and called ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was founded in 1869 by garment workers in Philadelphia who believed that one union of skilled
and unskilled workers should exist. The union was originally a secret, but later was open to all
workers, including blacks, women and farmers. Five hundred thousand workers joined in a year.
Their goals were an eight–hour work day, a minimum wage, arbitration rather than strikes, health
and safety laws, equal pay for equal work, no child labor under the age of fourteen, and government
ownership of railroads, telegraphs and telephones. However, the Knights of Labor was a relatively
weak organization, and eventually fell apart.
In 1886, the American Federation of Labor (AF of L) was formed and replaced the Knights of
Labor. Its leader was former cigar union official Samuel Gompers who only wanted to focus on
skilled workers. The AF of L was a conglomeration of twenty–five unions that included three
hundred thousand workers working for increasing wages, reducing hours, and improving working
conditions. Gompers believed that everyone should receive equal pay for equal work, and that
everyone's rights should be protected. He also thought the unions should be primarily concerned
with the day–to–day welfare of the members and should not become involved with politics. He also
thought that socialism would not succeed in the United States. "Bread and butter"
unionism was the

The rise and fall of Labor Unions
Kevin Campusano
Class
Prof.
30 November 2014
The rise and fall of labor unions
Labor union is an organized association of workers, in a trade or profession, formed to protect and
further their rights and interests. During the industrial revolution in Europe there was a rise in new
workers without representation in the workplace. In the 19th century the industrial revolution spread
to the United States from Europe, this resulted in the economy shifting to manufacturing from
agriculture as an economic importance. American societies were increasing in population as well as
experiencing industrial growth. This industrialization brought conflict between businesses and the
labor force since mechanized production was replacing household ... Show more content on
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The American Federation of Labor was successfully able to negotiate wage increases for its
members and enhance workplace safety for all workers. American Federation of Labor was more
successful than the Knights of Labor because they used new organizational methods to manage the
combined attack of employers and government authorities. American Federation of Labor would
also secure the loyalty of its 1.4 million members by providing sickness, unemployment, and strike
benefits, and burial insurance. American Federation of Labor emphasized higher wages, shorter
working hours, and better working conditions. Employers continued to resist the union's
negotiations by employing immigrants that they could give lower wages to and attempting to speed
up labor processes with new forms of organization. The unions within the American Federation of
Labor knew that if they had more control of the labor market they would have the power. So the
unions decided that limiting the number of available workers would keep their wages high. In 1892,
the supervisor of the Carnegie Steel's huge homestead complex, locked out his employees and said
he would operate the plant with nonunion workers. In retaliation the workers surrounded the plant,
the supervisor called in 300 armed Pinkerton guards which cause a 24 hour battle outside the plant.
The supervisor requested the state

The AFL Canadian: Labor, National Identity, and...
The AFL Canadian: Labor, National Identity, and Transnational Discourse 1936–1955
"The American Federation of Labor is an American organization," declared William Green,
president of the AFL, in his 1947 keynote speech, "It believe[d] in American, the fundamental law
of the United States, the Constitution, freedom, liberty and democracy. We will have nothing to do
with Communism in any shape, or form ... This sixty–sixth convention will redeclare its opposition
to Communism and to Communist philosophy, and ... to [those who would] attempt to establish it
among the organized labor of our country." Though Green declared "Communism abhorrent to
American labor" not all the members of the AFL were American. Indeed, Canadians and their ...
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The AFL used anti–Communist ideology as method of furthering, their own, American economic
interests. For all its supposed non–partisan domestic politics, the AFL leadership was invested in
American economic supremacy. Economic and political spheres of power can not be so neatly
decomposed. The expansion of U.S. economic power in the post–war period necessarily had politics
embedded within it. The AFL's associations with the CIA and State Department in order to defend
American corporations, with, naturally, associated windfalls for American labor. In Canada, as Gary
Marcuse points out, "the rebellious dissidents in the unions often voiced the emergent demands for
greater national autonomy, and the purge of the dissidents was intimately linked with the
suppression of that nationalism." The AFL's choice of discourse furthered their economic ends.
In order to appreciate the impact of these international developments, it is important to look at local
causes and effects. It is the process of emergent nationalism and its relationship to economic action
that interests me. I wish to examine, at a very local level, the relationship between economic
sovereignty and cultural identity among the rank–and–file membership of the Toronto AFL locals in
the W.W.II and post–war period. How do Canadians with a rising sense of nationalism understand
themselves and their roles within a decidedly American institution? The relationship of the Canadian
and the American is often

Analyze the impact of various events on the American...
I. Background information on industry and workers
A. Between the period of 1865–1900, industry exploded in growth
B. There were many contributors that included government action, labor unions, immigration, and
technological changes.
1. Government action tried to help the workers by decreasing corporations ' control over employees
2. Labor unions tried to increase benefits and make working easier
3. Immigration helped by having a cheap, abundant labor source for businesses to use
4. Technological changes both helped and hurt workers by making it easier to work but making it
harder by causing a need for skilled labor.
C. All of these affected workers, but in some more than others, however, labor unions and
technological changes had ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
B. Inventions like the Bessemer process, railroads, and the production plant all affected jobs and the
economy.
C. The Bessemer process allowed steel to be created at a much faster rate.
1. This called for more workers in order to maximize production
(a) Most workers were immigrants that worked two 12–hour shifts, seven days a week.
2. The Bessemer process greatly affected the worker by providing more jobs, but at a lower wage,
lower benefits, and higher hours, a negative effect.
D. In the 1860 's, the government finally commissioned the first transcontinental railroad.
E. Then from the 1860 's to about 1893, four more transcontinental railroads were created.
1. These transcontinental railroads stimulated industry greatly, creating more jobs in both industry

and working on the rails.
F. The invention and development of the production plant affected the worker greatly.
1. There were now more jobs due to the openings in factories.
(a) Machines replaced skilled workers in factories
G. Technological changes often replaced workers, however, it often created more jobs in the long
run.
IV. Summarizing the effects of labor unions and technological changes
A. Both labor unions and technological changes greatly affected the Industrial worker in the period
of 1865–1900.
B. Labor unions tried to provide greater benefits for workers and mostly positively affected workers.
1. They were mostly successful in

If You Had Been A Worker In The Late 1800s/Early 1900s
1.) If you had been a worker in the late 1800s/early 1900s, which of the two labor unions presented
here would most appeal to you? Explain why.
In the late 1800s/early 1900s, many men, woman and children were forced to work long hours for
low pay in dangerous working conditions. With little to no education, many workers had few other
options but too continue working in these conditions. During these times labor unions started to
become more and more popular. Through bargaining tactics such as strikes, sit–ins, boycotts, etc.,
these labor unions were successful in bargaining for higher wages, shorter worker hours and better
working conditions for many of their members. Had I have been a worker during these times, the
Knights of Labor would ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This war would become known by many names over the years: The Great War, The War to End All
War, and, since 1939 World War I. Two days after President Wilson's War Message was delivered to
Congress, Senator Robert La Follette gave a speech opposing American's involvement in that War.
During Sen. La Follette speech he stated, "These messages indicate on the part of the people a deep–
seated conviction that the United States should not enter the European war..." This statement
represents the feelings of the majority of those Americans opposing the U.S. involvement in the war.
Had I lived during 1917, I would have been opposed to the war, and been in support of Sen. La
Follette. This in whole because of the statement by President Wilson in his address, "...The present
German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind..." One word stands out
to me from this quote and that word is "commerce." I feel as though if I am going to fight in a war,
my fight will be for those things that deprive the American people of their inalienable rights, and not
for the increase of profits for rich

Two Major Unions in America Essay
Two Major Unions in America
Unions in America were created to improve the working conditions of its labor force. These labor
force consisted of the men, women, and children that were employed by the owners of industry.
Many unions were established in the early 1800s, but due to the widespread fear of socialism and
the repression from the courts, the majority of them eventually failed. Most capitalist, at the time,
felt there was no need to share with its employees the profits of their businesses (Murrin et al.
2002:685–702). Management, for the most part, paid little attention to salary and provided few, if
any, safety measures and health protection for the people actually doing the work. Employees
worked long hours weekly, often ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Supreme Court, repeatedly found unions in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, even though that
act had been intended to control corporations, not unions" (Murrin et al. 2002:701).
Later in their careers some of these men became humanitarians. But instead of providing social
reform in the work place with better wages and other benefits, they distributed large quantities of
their wealth instead to colleges and libraries; now they were looked at as heroes by society.
Consequently, due to abuses from employers to the people under them, laws and regulations to
protect workers were established and are now enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor. These
laws protect over 10 million employers and about 125 million employees (2003). As written in the
Department of Labors' General Information website, it says
"In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of Federal labor laws including
those that guarantee workers' rights to safe and healthful working conditions; a minimum hourly
wage and overtime pay; freedom from employment discrimination; unemployment insurance; and
other income support" (2003).
The involvement of the federal government helped curb or eliminate conditions as those found in
sweatshops and other places. These jobsites usually were where people had to put in long hours
under unsafe working conditions.
The Industrial Workers of the World Union (IWW), unlike the Department of Labor, is mainly
concerned with the labor

The past century saw major developments in the economic,...
The past century saw major developments in the economic, social, political and cultural life of the
United States as it grew from a burgeoning industrial nation to the world's leading superpower. By
the 1900s, giant firms such as Carneige Steel, The Standard Oil Trust, among a few others
controlled 2/5th of the nation's marketing capital. This resulted in a rapid increase in the number of
industrial workers and even though the American society was growing wealthier overall, there were
several thousands that still lived not only in poverty but also far below the poverty lines. It all began
with rapid economic growth that was fueled with technological advancements in the field of
electricity, communications, business machines, farm and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The Railroads comprised the first big business for America ad their systemization and consolidation
by the end of the 19th century brought about the development of large business enterprises in the
world. The Gilded Age, even though known for its advancements in the field of industrialization was
known to have been an era of serious social problems, hidden under the glitz and glamour of
precipitously evolving developments. The lessons of the railroads were applied to other big
businesses and were soon met with public outrage at the unscrupulous tactics, monopoly control and
sky–high earnings of these affluent corporations. The number of industrial workers had increased
rapidly from 885, 000 to 3.2 million from 1860 to 1890 alone. Also, the American Revolution of
1765–1783 had resulted in the dissemination of new socio–political ideas, especially considering
that the American nation had succeeded and won its independence from the absolute military power
of its time. The ideals of social equality ran high. However, changes in trade and commerce
resulting from modern capitalism were a complete deviation from this vision. Thus, arose grassroots
organizations that would respond to the changes in society through labor movements, the 1960s–70s
feminist movement responding primarily to women's suffrage, civil rights movements, antiwar
activism and gay rights. As the American society continued to grow wealthier, factory workers
began to numb to

Knights of Labor Essay
The Knights of Labor represented the pinnacle of the up lift labor movement. They, at one time, had
membership that numbered in the hundreds of thousands and nearly hit a million members. This
organization was unique in its time because it espoused many of the ideals we hold today as
statutory for an ethical and equitable society as well as employee employer relationship. The
Knights of Labor did not begrudge industry or the capitalism, more over they were less of a concern
than the organizations larger goal to protect and promote social equity, in labor and society, for the
common man. The organization was distinctive for is time. There were other labor unions, but the
Knights supported trade craftsmen, common laborers, and worked ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Today, many of these basic concepts are taken as common practice in the workplace while others
still are challenges facing the employees of today. Child Labor laws were enacted within the 50
years following the knights. Fighting speculation and outlawing monopolistic practices was
addressed through the Sherman Anti–Trust Act. The 8–hour workday and overtime was addressed
under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, the arbitration of disputes between labor and
management, advocated by the Knights, has become a cornerstone of conflict resolution for labor
relations. The Knights however, viewed these gains as the end to a means. These gains would be
brought about through raising the working class by raising the intellectual, moral, and social life of
the worker (Budd, 2010). The transition to a collective behavior is at the root of uplift unionism, and
is the cornerstone of the Knights larger agenda. This concept enjoined the ideals of a fraternal
brotherhood and gave the organization an advantage in the ability to relate to the society of laborers
who felt oppressed at the hands of capitalists. It brought, to those who joined, a sense of something
more that just a loose association of workers

Establish A Campaign: A Case Study
Creation of union starts when there is the need for representation and bargaining. The target and the
interest of employees will be a primary determinant for the union to organize the campaign. The first
step includes building an organizing committee. During this phase, the leaders identified and
established. The primary goal of this action is to educate the board about the benefits that union
offers and represents, explain the specific laws and procedures that involve in the process of forming
a union, and providing information about potential issues and challenges that can arise during the
campaign. The second step is to determine the issues. There are a strategy and a plan that committee
will develop for the recognition campaign. The third step includes choosing a union recognition
strategy. This action is necessary because during this time employees build interest and determine
which policies need to select. Card–check recognition is a process when a committee or union
representative informs the employer that at least 50% or more employees signed the union
authorization cards. If the employer doesn't recognize this action, there is a strike for recognition
when majority 50% plus employees agree to strike to force the employer to accept the bargaining
unit. The final ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
That means to get support from the NLRB and perform the secret ballot election; the signed cards
must be petitioned to state or federal labor board. The labor board will determine who is eligible to
vote and will schedule the election. The union campaign will continue before the election. If the
union wins, the employer must recognize the collective bargaining with the union, but that doesn't
mean that the employer requires agreeing to any terms or conditions. The union should negotiate
and achieve the best terms and conditions for workers. Even if there is a pressure from the employer,
the employees must provide support to the

The Gilded Age And The Gilded Age
Both books look at the Gilded Age in different perspectives as to how it affected the USA. A
People's History of the United States talks about how the people rebelled for their rights as working
citizens, showing a in–depth view in how the American people lived during this time. A Patriot's
History of the United States takes a broad approach, just stating the facts and telling from a political
view in what was happening in the government. Even though both books talk from different
perspectives, these authors hit some touchy details that they share similar or different views on. In
this case, A Patriot's History of the United States does a better job at dealing with these topics
because even though broad, the author shows the logic behind the decisions made. Even though
these two novels have different perspectives of what was going on during the Gilded Age, they both
talk about the effectiveness of the unions, the conditions in which the workers were in, and the
struggles of the daily people trying to survive. One of the major things to come out of the 19th
century were the formation of labor unions as it was a response to social and economic changes of
the industrial revolution. One of the major unions the books talked about was the Knights of Labor,
an organization made to find fairness in the workplace. However, they only supported white
fairness, which made them unliked. Furthermore, they were not the only unions formed during this
time. The Western

How Successful Was Organized Labor in Improving the...
Relying on a critical evaluation of the accompanying documents and your knowledge of the time
period, assess the validity of this statement: "The growth of organized labor between 1875 and 1900
was not a radical threat to American society." ________________________________________
Document A Source: From the Depths, William Balfour Ker, 1906
________________________________________ Document B Source: Terence V. Powderly, The
Knights of Labor Champion Reform, 1887 We are breaking up old traditions. We are breaking up
hereditary rights, and planting everywhere the seed of universal rights. We are breaking up the idea
that money makes the man and not moral worth. We are breaking up the idea that might makes
right... We are ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
________________________________________ Document F Source: Terrence V. Powderly, Thirty
Years of Labor, 1859–1889 (Philadelphia: T. V. Powderly, 1890) The annual convention of the
Knights of Labor that convened in Richmond, Virginia, on October 4, 1886, took place in a region
driven by racial and political conflict. You stand face to face with a stern, living reality; a
responsibility which cannot be avoided or shirked. The Negro question is a living reality; a
responsibility that cannot be avoided or shirked. The first proposition that stares us in the face is
this: the Negro is free; he is here and he is here to stay. He is a citizen and must learn to manage his
own affairs. His labor and that of the white man will be thrown upon the market side by side, and no
human eye can detect a difference between the article manufactured by the black mechanic and that
manufactured by the white mechanic. Both claim an equal share of the protection afforded to
American labor, and both mechanics must sink their differences or fall prey to the slave labor now
being imported to this country. Every man has the right to say who shall enter beneath his roof; who
shall occupy the same bed, private conveyance, or such other place as he is the master of. I reserve
for myself the right to say who I will or will not associate with. That right belongs to

The Working Unions Of The Knights Of Labor In America
Working unions all across the country give working opportunities to the people who want to work.
Then the Knights of Labor came and brought help to the working–class people of America from
improved wages and better working conditions. Millions of people America benefited by what the
Knights of Labor brought to them. During the Industrial Revolution the Knights of Labor were
prompted to bring justice to blue collar America. The Knights of Labor was unions formed to
prevent unfair wages and working conditions. The Knights of Labor was once a secret society of
tailors that allowed fair job opportunities to come available to those who were seeking jobs.
("Knights of Labor" history.com) Strikes began to happen because unions were unhappy about their
working conditions and their wages. The Knights came into play to stop the unions from striking, to
achieve this they gave them fair wages and fair working conditions. In 1879 Terence Vincent
Powderly took office and the Knights flourished under his leadership. More than seven hundred
thousand members had joined the Knights after Powderly became leader. The Knights were known
for allowing different sexes and races to work. "On the other hand, the Knights strongly supported
the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Contract Labor Law of 1885; like many labor leaders at
the time, Powderly believed these laws were needed to protect the American work force against
competition from underpaid laborers imported by unscrupulous

Industrial Revolution Dbq
The Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th century transformed rural to urban life and gave
people higher expectations for improving their standard of working and living conditions. The
increased number of jobs, along with technological innovations in transportation and housing
construction, encouraged migration to cities. Development of railroads, streetcars, and trolleys in the
19th century enabled city boundaries to expand. People no longer had to live within walking
distance of their jobs. All of the expansion of businesses, cities, and population led to absolutely no
sanitation because multiple families lived in a tenant –a low costing apartment building designed to
house many families– and they lived without a proper waste disposal. This caused the spreading of
germs and that resulted in the death of millions. Workers believed if they argued and protested, they
would have to be granted better living and working conditions, so they formed unions. By the turn
of the 20th century, labor unions destroyed the free market by restricting businesses with rules that
crucially penalized the wealthy for being successful. The labor unions' desire to maintain these
rights were campaigned through arguments, protests, and riots resulting in an enforcement of
regulations such as an increase in pay, a decrease in working hours, and an improvement in working
conditions. An increase of wages was one of the key outcomes from the labor union campaigns.
Samuel Gompers, an American

Combating Worker Injustices During in the Late 19th Century
Workers in the late 19th century were treated unfairly the majority of the time. They worked in
unsafe conditions for meager pay. Young children joined the workforce to help support their
families. Most of the workers during this period were just thankful to earn a living, so they rarely
complained about their working conditions. All of these factors spurred the creation of labor unions
during the 19th century. The Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, and the Industrial
Workers of the World were just a few of the unions established during this time. The Knights of
Labor was founded in 1869 by Uriah S. Stephens. This union grew slowly, but managed to spread
more rapidly even during the depression of the 1870s. Some of the working stipulations that this
union imposed were elimination of convict–labor competition, eight–hour workdays, guarantee of
salaries, and the use of paper currency. They also wanted equal pay for both men and women, which
was a first during those times. A big achievement for the Knights of Labor was keeping children
under fourteen out of the workforce. The Preamble to the Constitution of the Knights of Labor stated
that, "The prohibition of the employment of children in workshops, mines, and factories before
attaining their fourteenth year." This allowed children to be children at least until their teenage
years, without the worries that adults faced. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was started in
1886. It was started

Knights of Labour
IS IT FAIR TO DISMISS THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR AS HOPELESS DREAMERS WHO
ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE? Nahean Nazmul (0862852) Labour Studies 1A03 Spring/Summer
2012 Prof. David Goutor Great success often comes from previous failures. Without failure,
greatness can be impossible to attain. For this and many other reasons, it is unfair to view the
Knights of Labor as hopeless dreamers who accomplished little. Instead, this paper will express the
way in which the Knights of Labour contributed to a greater social blueprint; a blueprint that helped
shape future generations. The impact that the Knights of Labour have had on society can be seen
through three main criteria. The first of these criteria was their ability to set a clear example of what
did ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
[3] The Knights aimed for several important and influential standards such as: an eight hour
workday, termination of child labour, termination of convict contract labour system, equal pay for
equal work, a graduated income tax, etc. The Knights' "living wage" campaign stated: give us a
living wage so that we may "Keep body and soul together." We have achieved most of those goals in
modern day. Had it not been for the Knights promoting those ideologies to not only its 700,000 plus
members, but also anyone who was aware of their goals, all of that may have not been eventually
attained. [3]By educating and uplifting workers, negotiating salaries and contracts with employers,
and upholding the rites and rituals of a "fraternal brotherhood," the Knights had strengthened
labourers of all sorts. [6]Even though the collapse of the Knights

Labor Unions : Past, Present And Future State
Labor Unions: Past, Present and Future State. Labor Unions were and still are an essential element
in today's businesses. In earlier years, labor unions aided employees by serving as the main voice to
their employer. Today, the struggle continues as labor unions help workers by ensuring their voices
are heard, their rights are upheld, their pay and benefits are fair and by eliminating injustices. In
order to understand what lies ahead for the future state of labor unions, it is important to recognize
its history, but also understand current challenges faced that will likely shape the future. Workers
have and always will be the most valuable asset a company has. Without employees, no business can
function. Because of employees' worth, businesses are obligated to satisfy their employees needs
and this was accomplished by the formation of the labor union. Before the formation of the labor
union, employees had no say or voice. After, however, labor unions acted as the employees' voice to
their employers. The historical changes of the labor union have shaped what labor unions stand for
today and what they will stand for in the future. By understanding the historical timeline of the
formation and development of labor unions, it is easier to understand the problems that we face
today and in the future as a modern society. Labor unions originated in the early years of the United
States. Over time, labor unions worked to gain the rights to give their workers power and a voice.

Causes Of The American Industry
American Industry Strikes the Country
With remarkable new advancements in American Industry, it transformed the country and its people.
While many business leaders thrived off the success of their companies, many did not realize the
loathsome treatment many of their workers endured. These prosperous business figures acquired an
ample amount of wealth for themselves and their families but did little to assist those who were
suffering. John D. Rockefeller and other affluent individuals are just a few examples of people who
were vain and refused to recognize the cry for help that many workers desperately needed. The
ignorance of these arrogant business leaders led to the creation of various organizations to be formed
including the National ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Therefore, he convinced himself that helping the poor was not his problem and that the people
should be held accountable for their failures and struggles in life. Other profitable business leaders
that made little to no effort to assist those in need included J. Pierpont Morgan, who turned Andrew
Carnegie's steel corporation into a booming industry. Many of these successful entrepreneurs were
self–centered and believed in the idea of Social Darwinism in which only the strongest individuals
can thrive in the marketplace.
These pompous tycoons ignored the people who needed them most which led to the formation of
numerous unions. William H. Sylvis founded the National Labor Union, which unified other labor
organizations to fight against the harsh working conditions that men, women, and children faced.
Factory laborers worked long hours and days. They were also forced to work in dangerous and
unhealthy factories that caused frequent industrial accidents. Along with the National Labor Union,
the Knights of Labor was another organization that worked towards improving the workforce for
others. The Knights of Labor was created by Uriah S. Stephens and strived to improve the economy.
Instead of having a "wage system," supporters of this union hoped to establish a "cooperative
system" that would allow workers to have more control in the economy. As seen through these two
labor organizations, workers had no one else to defend them. They had to

The American Civil War : The Gilded Age Emerged
Following the finish of the American Civil War, the period known as the Gilded Age emerged.
During this period, industrialism increased rapidly as well as the amount of cities. However, with a
growth of industries and cities, corruption and complications would also follow. Since businesses
were booming and the economy was improving, the United States' Presidents of this time period,
such as Hayes, Garfield, and Cleveland, granted businesses large amounts of power in hopes of
continuing the success of the nation. The wealthy business men were given favorable tax rates and
free land, as well as a free range of power. These big businesses greatly impacted the economy by
controlling the flow of production along with the wealth of the people, as well as politics through
achieving an unlawful amount of power and corrupting the government, which led to the opposition
of the American people and fabrication of labor unions and labor strikes. First of all, big businesses
oversaw the production of goods which allowed for them to regulate the distribution of wealth
throughout the nation. For instance, as the Historical Statistics of the United States conveys, as the
amount of the production of goods increased over the years, the cost of living and basic essentials
decreased [Doc A]. Through the invention of Thomas Edison's light bulb, business hours increased
since they were now able to work at night, and the cost of light and fuel decreased. Also, businesses
during this time

Why Should We Care About Collective Bargaining? Essay
A question that has frequently been ask over the years is, " Why should we care about collective
bargaining? ". The thing that has been missing from the collective bargaining discussion is a real
explanation and understanding of the concept. Collective bargaining has been described as a process
when employees and their representatives form a united front, known as a union, to negotiate with
their employers. These negotiations are usually over things like pay rates and salary amounts,
benefits, and conditions at the workplace , among other issues. The principles of collective
bargaining and unions come from the idea that employees as a group have far more bargaining
power than individual employees trying to negotiate with their employer. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The National Labor Union would be one of the first such organizations that sprung up in order to
represent skilled craft workers and defend their right against their employers. The National Labor
Union had a philosophy which, by the standards of the 19th century, would be considered
progressive and ahead of their time. They lobbied for a standardized 8 hour workday and equal
opportunity employment rights for minorities and women. The next major organization to step up
and represent the interest of employees was the Knights of Labor. The Knights of Labor had a
philosophy of accepting skilled and unskilled workers alike, calling it and one big union approach.
Their beliefs included many ideas that involved social reform, like putting a stop to the so called
wage system. The Knights of Labor though did not however approve of using striking by its
members as a tactic to pressure employees to except their contract demands. The fall of the Knights
of Labor came when hundreds of unions of skilled workers left the Knights and created the
Federation of Organized Trade and Labor Unions, known as the FOTLU, in 1881. The remaining
member unions of the Knights of Labor left to form the American Federation of Labor, known as the
AFL. Instead of trying to effect change in the subject of broad social issues. They instead
concentrated on a bread and butter approach to

Labor Unions Essays
In this essay I'll write about union membership, membership trends, the two types and levels, and
the importance of unions. I'll also discuss some of the negative sides of unionization in corporate
America today.
Labor unions are groups or clubs of workers and employees who bond together to get good
conditions, fair pay, and fair hours for their labor. These unions are usually joined together, and most
unions in America are some branch of the largest labor union organization in the United States, the
AFL–CIO with thirteen million members.
One of the largest unions is the Teamsters Union, formed in 1903, and perhaps the most contentious,
union with 1.3 million members, were expelled from the AFL–CIO, in 1957. The labor organization
grew ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of the reasons for the decline was the loss of jobs in manufacturing, which was the labor's
biggest stronghold. America has lost three million factory jobs over the past four years. The second
reason is heavily unionized industries have been decreasing. Other reasons are many firms have
moved from the unionized to the not so unionized Southeast and Southwest region and they tend to
hire nonunion workers. Some of the American companies have moved their manufacturing process
to other countries where very few unionized labor is employed. The management of the companies
is providing benefits that include higher wages and better working conditions, therefore employees
don't need to join any union. The largest growths in employment take place in the service industries,
and these industries regularly are not unionized.
The two main types of unions are craft unions and industrial unions. Craft unions are organizations
of workers with similar skills. This type of union can maintain control over the supply of skilled
laborers; often work for multiple employers in a year. (e.g. construction unions, pilot unions)
Industrial unions are organized by industry which originally started b/c ineligible for craft unions
and typically work for one employer for long period. (e.g. steelworkers, auto workers)
Unions often have several levels which are; local: workers in plant or industry in a limited
geographical area (Buhler union was CAW local 2224), national: larger union

Union Drama And Development Of The United States
Union Drama and Development One does not have to work hard to find a newspaper article,
television story, or politician talking about labor unions in the United States. This country has a
strong heritage of labor, with roots going back to the Second Industrial Revolution. Despite the
historical significance of organized labor in the United States, however, the contemporary viability
of this movement is the subject of an ongoing debate, as union membership among American
workers declined seriously in the past half–a–century. The Washington Post (Swanson, 2015) reports
that while fifty years ago, around thirty percent of workers joined unions, that number fell to around
ten percent in 2015. Before jumping to conclusions about how or why ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
At the time, the preeminent labor organization, the Knights of Labor (KOL) stood at odds with the
fledgling AFL. Throughout the eight–hour workday movement, the leader of the KOL, Terence
Powderly, spoke out against strikes and worked to keep his organization away from the issue.
Powderly bore a great deal of criticism following the Haymarket Riot and his inaction surrounding
the incident pushed workers to consider the new organization, the AFL, as a champion of workers
rights and an entity ready to take more aggressive action towards change. In this way, the
Haymarket Riot helped the AFL by highlighting the out–of–step ideology held by their rivals, the
Knights of Labor. Homestead Strike While the Haymarket Riot may have benefited the AFL in the
short–run, the Homestead Strike resulted in mixed results for the labor conglomerate and is
remembered as one of the bloodiest incidents in the history of organized labor (Holley et al., 2012)..
In the summer of 1892, an affiliate of the AFL, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin
(AA), experienced a standoff with their employer, the Carnegie Steel Works in Homestead,
Pennsylvania, over proposed wage cuts. Management's attempt to seize control of their

Essay about Autonomy and Responsibility: The Start of...
Autonomy and Responsibility: The Start of Labor Unions The late nineteenth century was a time of
great change for people everywhere. Industries became staples of society in almost every major city;
farming became more efficient due to steel and machines, and more jobs were available because of
all the new industries. Between 1865 and 1900, the number of people employed in manufacturing
rose from 1.3 million to 4.5 million. Working conditions were terrible, providing long hours, low
wages, and unhealthy conditions. Millions of people were denied the basic amenities that their labor
made possible for others.1 When reviewing drive for monopolies, Edward Bellamy, author of
Looking Backward, wrote that "The individual laborer, who had ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Six states enacted the eight–hour workday, but four of them had exceptions to the rule, so the NLU
was not as successful as it seemed on the surface.3 The NLU realized that the labor dispute could
not be fixed without a reform of the currency, which led to an ill–fated alliance with the Greenback
movement. In 1872 the NLU transformed itself into the National Labor Reform Party, which turned
out to be unsuccessful.4 By 1873, there were twenty–five national unions with a combined
membership of 170,000 people, and another 130,000 workers belonged to unions that lacked a
national association.5 Even though the NLU failed to attain quality working conditions for workers,
it was able to prove that a national confederation of workingmen was not impossible. Its short life
showed that representatives for labor did not know the proper place of the worker in the new
industrial world. The NLU made no effort to perfect itself as a lasting organization, but it's errors
allowed successors to learn and profit.6 The formation of the NLU exemplifies the autonomy of the
people because they realized that they were being treated unfairly and they went ahead and did
something about it. Another labor union, The Nobel Order of the Knights of Labor (The Knights),
was able to last longer than the NLU and produced more successful results. Founded on December
9, 1869 by nine tailors

Knights Of Labour Research Paper
The Knights of Labor's first founder was Uriah Stevens. The Knights of Labor were a secret
organization, but Terence Powderly ended the group's secrecy, and took control of the organization
in 1879. Terence Powderly lead a group of individuals which included men, women, and even
sometimes very small and young children. They eventually added African Americans as well to the
organization. The members of this guild were more times than not unskilled workers. Often times
these workers held jobs at large scale factories and in shipyards as well as many other places. This
guild of workers often got paid very little for the hard work and long hours that they put into their
jobs. This left the works with nothing to show at the end of the day for all

Failed Farm And Labor Organizations In The Late 19Th Century

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Failed Farm And Labor Organizations In The Late 19Th Century