Labor Unions And The Industrial Age - 1362 Words

â€Å"In 1900, 18 percent of all American workers were under the age of 16† (Yellowitz, http://www.history.com/topics/child-labor). For years people have gone back and forth on whether or not labor unions are actually beneficial to workers or if unions are harmful to the economy. Labor unions first started popping up as early as 1794 and started catching on in the 1880s with the introduction of The Knights of Labor. (Staff, http://www.history.com/topics/knights-of-labor) Unions grew in response to terrible working conditions, long hours, zero benefits, very low wages, and child labor. The opponents of labor unions were around even before then. When the industrial age began and people started moving to the cities, many employers took advantage of the high numbers of people in search for work and treated them more as numbers and expendable machines than people. The workers maybe got enough to live on after working for most of the day, everyday, for most of their lives. Even the children had to work those same hours instead of enjoying their childhood. The flip side to all of that is that the economy expanded and there were many people who got rich through that system. Overall, labor unions were extremely beneficial not only to American workers but also to the American economy because they improved working conditions, eliminated child labor, and because the more money workers received, the more money they spent and put back into the economy. On one hand labor unions did a lot toShow MoreRelatedThe Development of Labor Unions Essay675 Words   |  3 Pages During the Victorian age, and up until about the 20s, labor unions were new developments. They had existed before, but on a much smaller scale. The labor unions that did exist were all vastly different. Some were conservative, while others were extremely radical. The Industrial Workers of the World are an example of a more radical group, while the American Federation of Labor is more conservative. The two unions had contrasting opinions to the point of conflict between the groups. As well as havingRead MoreIndustrial Workers During The Gilded Age1588 Words   |  7 PagesSimilar 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 PullmanRead MoreIndustrial Revolution : A Time Of Economic Success888 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough the Industrial Revolution is widely referred as a time of economic success, and very often benefited the rich. The Industrial Revolution occurred during the eighteenth century and was a time of innovation, but it is clear that present time has made several improvements, especially in working conditions. The working conditions were harsh and unlike the working conditions of present time child labor was very prevalent in the period of the Industrial Revolution, in addition to this there wereRead Morereserchpaper817 Words   |  4 Pages How did the United States become a mature industrial society in the decades after the civil war? Industrial economy By the 1913 the United States produced one third of the world’s industrial output. The 1880 census showed for the first time that a majority of the work force engaged in non-farming jobs. Worker’s freedom in an industrial age .for a minority of workers, the rapidly expanding industrial system created new forms of freedom. Between 1880 and 1900 an average of 35,000 workers perishedRead MoreLabor Unions615 Words   |  3 PagesLabor Unions University of Phoenix MGT434: Employment Law Scott Dunlap February 7, 2008 Labor organizations or unions are formed by employees who want better wages, benefits, and healthy working conditions. Over the years, participation in unions has declined regardless of the benefits it offers. There are less strikes and better wages in the United States which in turn does not warrant the high need for these types of organizations in the work place. 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Even though industrializing managed to drastically increase efficiency of labor and intensely lower the prices of goods, it wholly transfigured the social relationship of the labor intensive working class. Dawley and Faler examine the historical effect of the workers that adopted the newfound ethics and personalities of their thriving, higher-class employers and people that used these morals to rebel againstRead MoreAre Labor Unions in the U.S. Obsolete?1306 Words   |  6 PagesAre Labor Unions in the U.S. Obsolete? To understand the worth of today’s unions, we must first understand the history and purpose of these organizations. Simply put, a union is an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer. There are many types of unions. For instance, a craft union is one whose members do one type of work, often using specialized skills and training. An industrial union is one that includes many persons working in the same industry or company, regardlessRead MoreManagement Should Have the Right to Allow a Union in the Workplace or Not1484 Words   |  6 Pagesbeen conflict of power within the workforce between union and management. This essay will discuss if management should have the right to determine whether a union should operate within their workplace. It is necessary first to discuss the roles of unions and management in the workplace and discuss both points of view on the power distribution between unions and management in the workplace. The rise of industrial age led to the rise of industrial factory systems. As the industries grew larger as wellRead MoreChild Labour : A History Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesChild Labour in The United States Child Labour: A History America and The Industrial Revolution ‘Forms of child labor, including indentured servitude and child slavery, have existed throughout American history.’ (http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/us_history.html) During the years following the Civil War, (http://americanhistory.about.com/od/industrialrev/a/indrevoverview.htm) the American working class made an abrupt transition away from farm work and home chores