Labor Unions In The 1800’S

Labor Unions In The 1800’S

In the 1800s industrial revolution had become formidable in the United States. Almost 5 million worked in the transport, manufacturing, and construction sectors. The shift from farming to industrial jobs resulted in workers being paid low wages, having deplorable and unsafe working conditions, and engaging in long working hours. As the factories and businesses expanded, the owners hardly new their workers personally and had little knowledge of their problems. Workers often switched jobs after three years, but the conditions were the same, even in other industries. The formation of labor unions such as The Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, and First National Union had a primary goal of protecting the rights of workers to enhance their standards of living.

Firstly, the labor union formed to raise the standard of living for workers in the 1800’s. Many workers had a low standard of living because of their low income. Most business owners wanted to pay their workers low wages to maximize profit. There were often many job seekers, and the industries gave jobs in their terms. As a result of low income, most workers were unable to afford suitable housing, clothing, and enough food, which resulted in a lesser standard of living for many Americans. In the late 1860s, different Unions began to cooperate so that they could compel the government to establish rules that set the standard low minimum wages for workers. Also, the Unions decide to stage strikes to have dominion over the employers. For instance, in 1825, the United Tailoresses of New York staged a walkout to demand better wages. However, due to a lack of policy guidelines to protect workers, their employers forced them back to work using threats to blacklist them. When an employee was blacklisted, his or her name was circulated to other industries to ensure he or she does not receive employment afterward.

Secondly, the labor Organization seeks to end unsafe working conditions. As Industrialization continues to advance, the machines become more sophisticated and exposed the workers to more danger. Thousands of deaths and injuries as a result of accidents in the factories were reported every year. For example, in the 1860s in Chicago, over 2000 Amours’ meatpacking plant’s employees were injured or fell ill from their work.

Thirdly, labor Unions fought to secure definite working hours for their members. Most industries had no guidelines for the number of working hours, and each employer set their terms. Workers were forced to work for long working hours without any extra incentives. For Example, Amours’ meat company in Chicago forced workers to work for long hours up to thirteen hours a day. Also, some railroad companies forced workers to complete a forty-hour shift before resting. In 1835, there were over 50 different trade unions in Philadelphia who organized continuous strikes to secure a ten-hour working day agreement for their members. Also, workers in 25 mills in New Hampshire succeeded in getting a reduction in their working hours from 14hours to 12 hours after going on strike.

Lastly, trade Unions were keen to stop child labor that was rampant in the 1800s. Industrial employers prefer to employed underage because they had very little or no demands. Also, there were no elaborate regulations to protect the minor from exploitation. European immigrants allowed their children to work to sustain their families. In the late 1800s, the labor Union managed to force the government to enact over 1,600 las to protect the children in the United States. However, by the 1900s still, there were over 2 million child workers in the United States. Child labor denied many children’s education in the 1800s.

Numerous labor unions made a significant contribution to the liberation of workers and uplifted their standard of life. Some of the considerable unions include the American Federation of Labor, First National Union, and Knight of Labor. The Knights of labor, led by Terence V. Powderly, formed in 1869, pushed for the 8 hours working hours for its members. The union recruited skilled and non- skilled workers. By 1885, it had almost 700,000 workers, including women, African-Americans, whites, Mexicans, and immigrants. The union organized numerous strikes to advocate for the rights of workers. However, the Knights of labor had challenges holding strikes to help unskilled workers since they could be easily replaced if they refused to work. After a successful raid against the Wabash Railroad, the Knights of Labor found more support among the coal miners in Pennsylvania in 1885. In 1886, a strike for an 8-hour work limit in Haymarket Square Chicago, leading to the death of four people, made the union lose support.

In 1880, skilled workers abandoned the Knights of Labor movement to join the American Federation of Labor (AFL).The AFL comprised of over twenty national crafts Unions. The union mainly advocated for a safe working environment for shoemakers, carpenters, and plumbers. The union employed strikes to achieve their objectives. The AFL succeeded in securing a better working environment and increased wages for its members. The union grew to over 2 million members by 1901. The AFL declined in the early 1900s when employees launched the open shop movement to expel the labor Union from construction, mining, and other sectors. Labor unions wielded a lot of power in 1800, and as a result, their leaders engaged in corrupt dealing with business owners. The corruption led to the loss of support and ultimate withdrawal by members.

The labor Unions affected Economic and social life in the United States in various ways. Firstly, Labor Unions help to establish the middle class in the economy. Workers’ wages and salaries increased, resulting in more savings and better standards of life. People’s propensity to consume increased, and investments in personal businesses rose. For instance, the middle class could spend more on luxury, food, and clothing. The middle-class growth resulted in the establishment of numerous subsidiary businesses such as restaurants, cloth companies, and recreational facilities. The unions’ advocacy for better pay for workers also enhanced the circulation of money in the United States economy. The numerous subsidiary businesses ensured both skilled, and non-skilled workers secured employments in the new industries. The productivity of industries also increased because workers were more motivated to work harder and increase productivity. Productivity increased the competitiveness of the United States on the global platform.

Also, the labor Union ensured that the United Citizens had a better social life. The reduced working hours and better working conditions meant that workers could spend more time with their families and friends. The labor unions also ensure the workers received better health covers and insurance, which improved the quality of life and increased life expectancy. Moderate working hours provided that people in the United States had more time to allocate to other activities. They could now be able to participate in family bonding, charitable organization, and involve themselves in the county’s politics. Additionally, labor unions managed to improve communication between workers and employers. The Unions gave workers a social platform to engage with their employers and voice their opinions. Work pressure was reduced to enable workers to enhance productivity in the business. Lastly, as a result of the labor unions’ advocacy, American families had a formidable set-up and progress. Children got the opportunity to go to school and undergo a healthy social life in society.

The shift from farming to the industry in the United States in the 1800s led to more Americans prefers working for industry and businesses. The industrial revolution provided Americans with a secure source of income.However, the rush to secure jobs in these industries led to a lot of job seekers who wanted to be employed in the already flooded industries. The desperation led to the employers exploiting the workers to their benefits and for profit. The formation of the labor unions ensured sanity in the manufacturing and processing industries. The trade Unions provided workers got standard premium wages, better healthcare services, Better working hours, and guaranteed leave. The increase in workers’ wages and a reduction in working hours resulted in an economic boom and a better social life for many American families. Child labor and exploitation were reduced, and the happy index of families also increased. Labor unions have been fundamental in the realization of the united states as an essential economic and social leader in the world.