Most people who worked in the factories lived in the factories which had little living space, lack of proper ventilation and lack of proper hygiene (Wikipedia). Due to the poor living conditions and overcrowding people were subject to health issues and death related from communicable diseases. Along with the poor living conditions, hunger and malnutrition were common during this time. Labor laws did not exist. Workers worked long hours without breaks and children were also subjected to these cruel working conditions as they were often put to work alongside their parents.
In this new capitalist period, the more simplified means of production as seen in feudalism, had developed into a “complex industrial state” as stated in Haralambos and Holborn (2008). Capitalism brought a new way to sustain humanity; industrial production. Marxism, as a sociological theory, focuses on the economics of Britain. Lee and Newby (1983) say that to “organize the production of its subsistence” is the most basic human instinct. The economy provides us with our means of survival and defines our society.
Many workers lost hearing from loud machinery, lost limbs in hazardous equipment, and even lost their life due to the apathy of factory owners. The pay for such jobs remained meager despite these risky conditions. The average blue collar employee received $3.50 an hour, barely enough to get by in society. To make matters worse, workers were forced to work long hours during the week, usually over ten hours a day for six to seven days a week. With such appalling conditions, industrial workers were forced into action.
Depending on the hours throughout the workday, workers shifts could be doubled and workers could be working up to six days a week. A lot of the workers during that time endured uninteresting, rugged and tedious day with little or no rest. Showing that life at that time as a worker was not worth it but most of them had families to feed. Now on to production, the manufacturing of goods in the
Even though unions had moved to improve the rights, justice and conditions of the workplace, it was not surprising that many workers were sacked for simply joining the unions. In the cities, many of the people worked in factories. Some employers and factory owners treated their employees well; they paid them above the minimum wage with good working conditions but in other cases, the workers were being treated like slaves. The temperature of the factories would rise in hotter seasons, sometimes rising above 40ºC, working between 8am to 6om, working to and fro work. Inquiries for better working conditions or wages were dismissed and so were the workers.
Many Americans did not trust these new business ideas and the “Sherman antitrust act” came into play. Small business owners and farmers felt like they were being pushed around and treated unfairly by these corporations. The next issue that people had with business was the new labor laws. People were working outrageous hours, in unsafe areas, and on top of that getting paid vey low wages. The working citizens expressed their need for the government to interject into the issues and
Whether it was to try to help their parents make more money, or to feed themselves, they would work. Some of the problems the workers would have were the lack of time and of money. They worked under very poor conditions, and did not have many privileges. Incidents like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory had major effects on the way the escapes in buildings were designed. Anyways all these incidents, made a difference, the government
During this time, the state made several cuts to social care. This affected the social service industry greatly. The State of Illinois was the largest contributor to the agency for its duration, and had become delinquent with payments. This has affected the employees of Hull House as they are not receiving timely reimbursements, unable to carry out all work duties because of the reduction in hours, and receiving lower wages. The workers were not visiting the clients on a weekly basis as mandated by DCFS and paperwork was consistently late.
Work conditions were horrible for the few people who happened to have jobs in the 1930’s. They worked long hours for very little pay and they were treated badly by their bosses. The Fair Labor Standards Act helped workers by establishing a minimum wage of 25 cents an hour and a standard work week of fourty four hours for businesses engaged in interstate commerce. The Fair Labor Standards Act placed regulations and limits on how long a person could work and also ensured that a person would be paid a certain amount of money. Even though work places now were under regulation, many workers still had little or no contribution to rules, or determining whats right or wrong.
Workers were paid low wages, were forced to perform in unsafe working conditions, and lack of job security caused the workers to form unions. Workers began an effective sit-down strike at factories which prevented the employers from hiring other people to replace the workers. The women organized a first aid station, child care, and collected money and food to aid the strikers and their families. Laborers united across the country and organized strikes against other business. In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act (hereinafter referred to as