Labor Unions
Workers in the 1800s faced many challenges in the workplace. They worked long hours for extremely little pay, often in hazardous conditions. In the Northern as well as the Southern states, workers began to join together in an attempt to better their lives.
Skilled workers had been forming unions since the late 1700s, but the first large-scale labor union, the National Labor Union, was formed in 1866 by William H. Sylvis. However, the NLU refused to admit African-Americans, which led to the formation of the CNLU, the Colored National Labor Union. The NLU's membership grew quickly, climbing to over 640,000 people. In 1868, the NLU managed to get Congress to put an eight-hour workday into place for government workers.
As the labor movement spread across the nation, two major types of unions rose to the top. Skilled workers began to form Craft Unions, like the American Federation of Labor. It's main focus was to negotiate with management to establish written agreements on working hours, wages, and conditions. Industrial Unions would take all laborers, skilled or otherwise. The American Railway Union won a strike for higher wages in 1894, but like the Knights of Labor before them, never recovered after a major strike failed. However, it aided in the process of organizing unions.
Unions would help the public to hear the average worker's voice. They succeeded in improving working conditions, pay and hours for workers across the nation.
Skilled workers had been forming unions since the late 1700s, but the first large-scale labor union, the National Labor Union, was formed in 1866 by William H. Sylvis. However, the NLU refused to admit African-Americans, which led to the formation of the CNLU, the Colored National Labor Union. The NLU's membership grew quickly, climbing to over 640,000 people. In 1868, the NLU managed to get Congress to put an eight-hour workday into place for government workers.
As the labor movement spread across the nation, two major types of unions rose to the top. Skilled workers began to form Craft Unions, like the American Federation of Labor. It's main focus was to negotiate with management to establish written agreements on working hours, wages, and conditions. Industrial Unions would take all laborers, skilled or otherwise. The American Railway Union won a strike for higher wages in 1894, but like the Knights of Labor before them, never recovered after a major strike failed. However, it aided in the process of organizing unions.
Unions would help the public to hear the average worker's voice. They succeeded in improving working conditions, pay and hours for workers across the nation.