Technology improvements continued to reduce the demand for skilled labor. With an abundance of new immigrants willing to work, and no laws protecting a worker’s rights, businesses disregarded the lives of the individuals.
The first large national labor organization to become popular was the Knights of Labor. It was founded in 1869 by 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. Their goals were an eight-hour work day, a minimum wage, 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 was formed and replaced the Knights of Labor. Its leader was Samuel Gompers who only wanted to focus on skilled workers.
Gompers believed that everyone should receive equal pay for equal work, and that everyone’s rights should be protected.
A powerful reform called Progressivism swept the country in the early years of the twentieth century. The goal of college professors, ministers, journalist, physicians and social workers was to improve conditions for all Americans. They wanted to make the political system and the economic system more democratic. They were shocked at the fact that Americans were either wealthy or lived a life of poverty. Those who owned the nation’s resources should share some of their wealth with the less fortunate was their theory.
The progressives were concerned about the country’s labor problems. They disagreed with and were disturbed with the growing use of court rulings to halt strikes. In 1890, Congress passed the Sherman Anti-trust Act which purpose was to punish big business corporations that combined to prevent competition. However, it seemed to be used more as a weapon against unions. Progressives also were irritated by the use of federal troops and state militia against strikers.
One problem that had to be handled was the industrial accidents that occurred too often. Progressives said the cost of insurance to cover medical bills should be paid by the employers. By 1917, thirteen states had passed workers’ compensation laws. Many states also passed laws to improve safety regulations.
There was an alliance of Progressives and the AFL because they had similar goals in the improvement of American labor. Congress passed laws as a response to the many requests and demands to protect children, railroad workers, and seamen. Congress passed the extremely important Clayton Act in 1914, which ceased the use of antitrust laws and court injunctions against unions. The federal government created the War Labor Board during World War I to settle disputes by arbitration. The board made advances in wage increases, the eight-hour work day, and collective bargaining. They favored unions, and this led to a huge increase in the union membership.
Throughout the twentieth century, union struggles increased and decreased. During the 1920’s, the economy was high and generally prosperous for all Americans. The Great Depression in the 1930’s was a time of hardship and poverty for many workers. Unions actually benefited with the help of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Wagner Act was passed which guaranteed workers the right to join unions and bargain collectively. The National Labor Relations Board was formed. The board could hold elections so that workers could vote for the union they wanted to represent them. The board could also stop unfair practices used by employers against unions. America was developing into the country it is today.
The purpose and philosophy of a union, that a group is more powerful than any individual, has not changed throughout time. Americans are still fighting for what they believe in. They have been since the development of the country. Americans have realized that working together in unison is important for achieving their goals.
