The Labor Movement In The 1800's

680 Words3 Pages
The Labor Movement in America has made much progress since the beginning in the 1800’s. Along with a higher standard of living, labor unions came into being from this movement. Labor unions had a rough start in the beginning; and even today are not perfect. Labor unions have had a great effect on the Labor Movement and continue to make an effect today. One theory about the origin of labor unions is that workers formed them because the Industrial Revolution gave employers too much power [1]. Workers only needed a few tools to go into business for themselves before the revolution and many worked in their own homes. Afterward, many people in the East worked in factories since only wealthy employers could afford expensive machinery. Employees banded together to equalize bargaining power between…show more content…
Many agreements call for shorter workweeks to create more jobs and help preserve the existing ones. Another problem for labor is the decline in the percentage of workers who belong to unions. In 1945, about 36 per cent of all laborers were members of unions. Today, only about 25 per cent are members [1]. Critics claim that many unions are too big, inefficient, and corrupt. They also complain that many unions put the interests of their members above those of the nation. Other people point out that the same criticisms apply to many other groups…show more content…
Labor unions increased wages, made the work day and week shorter, created many benefits to workers who need them, and protected women and children in factories on the assembly line. 1) “Labor Movement.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 1983 ed. 2) Schmidt, Julie. Personal interview. 12 Sep 2008. 3) Wikimedia Foundation Inc. 2008. Wikipedia. 10 Sep. 2008.
Open Document