Monday- continue on monopolies, etc
Labor Unions- a union of laborers in a specific industry banding together to get better wages and conditions- power in numbers- gives voices to workers. Gave people weekends, child labor laws, overtime, minimum wage, injury protection, workmens compensation insurance, pension security, right to organize, etc. Went on strikes, sit ins, violence.
Everyone was against labor unions at first. All power was in the hands of the business owners. When workers went on strike, they would be fired and replaced with immigrants, who needed work and would gladly work for next to nothing- had it better in US than in Europe. They would hire strikebreakers to replace workers while they were on strike. Imposed lock-outs, blacklist workers- wouldn't be hired. People in labor unions were called communists or socialists.
Knights of Labor- 1869, Most famous leader was Terrence Powderly, Allowed all laborers to join, no longer around.
American Federation of Labor- Started in 1886, still around to day- AFL-CIO, Led by Samuel Gompers, broken into "craft unions"- bus driver unions, janitor unions, etc.
Tuesday- watch video
Wednesday- continue video
Thursday- continue video
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