Reasons behind Labor Unions

1. Reasons behind Labor Unions Standard 4.4 E.Q. Why did Labor Unions emerge in the 1900’s?

2. Labor Unions • The development of unions was the result of the workers’ attempt to join together to; • Protect themselves against the abuses of the market place • Dangerous conditions • Child labor, • Increased # of workers • Unfair wages. • The Government choose to let the workers and business to work out a solution on their own.

3. Factors that made unions fail • Division among workers due to race & ethnicity (language barriers) • Public Perception: Sees unions as dangerous and promoting violence & anarchy; prejudices against ethnic groups created prejudices against labor organizations

4. Factors that made unions fail 3. Fluctuating economic conditions. 4. Large scale immigration – (Supply and demand) – drove down the wages of unskilled workers and made strike less effective. 5. The Power of Big Business 6. The role of government – took the side of management/employers

5. Composition of the work force • Women: 17% of labor force; earned nearly ½ the salary of men. • Children: 20% of boys & 10% of girls under the age of 15; some as young as 5. • Hired because of their small hands and they were paid less • Men – resented women in the labor force because they were paid less and were a threat to male jobs.

6. Composition of the work force • Race/ethnictiy: large #/s of immigrants flooded the market making strikes less effective and driving down wages. • Most important reason: No laws or regulations. • Scabs: Strike breakers, often African Americans and immigrants • Further dividing the working class • Native born workers resented foreign born workers. Prejudices against ethnic groups created prejudice against labor organization.

7. Working Conditions: Dangerous • Management attempted to increase profits with long hours and unsafe working conditions. • 12 or more hours a day • 6 days a week, employees were not entitled to vacation, sick leave, unemployment compensation, or reimbursement of injuries. • Yellow Dog Contracts: Signed contracts that workers have to promise not to join a union if hired.

8. Progressive Movement Changes lives • Progressive attempts to ban child labor were unsuccessful – Supreme Court ruled the bans unconstitutional. • Muckrakers: Investigated the corporations and conditions of the times and pointed out the corruption of machine politics, the power of the monopolists and the plight of the Native Americans the workers and the immigrants. • Exposed the unfair work environment of poor immigrant. • “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair.