Labor Movement
Joanna Kwok
Background Information
- Workers wanted to improve economic position, they don't have a voice
- Low wages, long hours, uncertain job security
- Attempts by labor unions, promote wage earners' welfare
- Job competition forced the poor to work under any condition
- Child labor-children work long hour in dangerous factory conditions, got pay less than adults
Organization
- First nationwide labor organization was developed in mid-1800's
- US labor movement began in late 19th century
- Formed union - group bargaining power is greater than individuals
- Most union member are from construction, manufacturing, mining, and transportation industries
- "Knight of Labor" was the largest and the most important American labor organization
Collective Bargining
- Organize group to represent the employee fraternity
- Negotiates with employer or a group of employers
- Determine term of employment, reach an agreement
Grievance Process
- Internal dispute
- Employee addressed grievances
- Complaint is formally considered and reviewed
Strike
- Employees stop working
- Interrupt normal flow of goods, services of company produces
- Use strike as bargaining weapon
- Persuade company to agree their demands
Events
- 1914:Clayton Antitrust Act-protect labors' right to strike and bargain
- Yellow-dog contracts-threatened workers not to join union
- 1932:Norris La Guardia Act-banned yellow-dog contracts
- 1933:National Industrial Recovery Act-gave LU legal right to bargain collectively
- 1935:National Labor Relations Act-approved labors' right to organize, bargain collectively, and strike
- 1938:Fair Labor Standards Act-created a minimum wage, prohibited most child labor, and mandated a 44-hour workweek
Effects of Protest
Before Labor Movement
- Workers cannot determined their own working condition, times, and pay
- Low wages, long hours, uncertain job security
- Child labor- children work under dangerous conditions, very little pay
- Higher wages, shorter hours, receive more benefits, a higher standard of living
- Labor Movement grew as industrialization rose
- Most child labor got prohibited
Assessment Question
The participants demonstrate their belief system through their protest by forming an union of people who have a common goal of improving their economic position. They fought for higher wage, shorter hour, and a better working condition. The worker mostly fought non-violently, they got their points across by negotiate with they employer, or just stop working, disrupted company's production. They aimed for better economic position, and stop the child labor.
URL
http://images.wisegeek.com/turn-of-the-century-child-workers.jpg
http://www.labor4sustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/group2.jpg
http://europeanjournalists.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/game-figure-598036_1280-800x400.jpg
http://laborcosting.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Striking-Workers.png
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Knights_of_labor_seal.gif
http://www.ict-edu.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/chal2_gym_logo1.jpg
http://clubflyersmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/labor-movement4.jpg
http://scarincihollenbeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/nlrb-sm.png