However, when unions rised up and demanded fair wages, employers would have to consider these demands and negotiations would have to take place. This is one of the reasons why companies, such as the Western Union Telegraph Company, would demand employees to sign a contract which would allow them to fire employees who join labor unions, this was also known as a yellow dog contract or ironclad oath. In 1890 the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was signed into Law. The Anti-Trust Act had many loopholes, and big businesses turned it around in their favor, against the workers, who it was supposed to help. This was used to curb labor unions that were deemed to be restraining
As a result, it is possible to interpret the industrialization like another form of slavery because it is a nuisance to the worker’s freedom. Indeed, it is a fact; factories owner have a total control on the workers. They take decision without any consent, and they only seek their profits. In fact, Sam tells us about the factories owners’ behavior by denouncing the changes in the lunch hours. (Patch, 67) It is true that the workers are proud of their skills especially the spinners like in Sam Patch, but sometimes fighting back is an obligation.
Working conditions and treatment in the work place at this time were harsh, poor and inadequate. Reforms that had been introduced were frequently ignored by employers. The hours were extensive and they worked for little pay. Yet the workers did not complain in fear of being sacked. 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.
At this time Social Darwinism was being introduced into society and perfectly depicts the life of the poor, injured, and sick. It is impossible for an immigrant to keep a job for any measurable length of time because of the dangerous conditions of the time, the risk of sickness, and the many people waiting in line to jump in and take a weak person’s job. The strong and willing were the only people who worked. The strong were the ones who did not surrender to the temptation of alcohol and drugs. The strong were the ones who caught the eyes of employers, and the strong were the ones who were able to provide for their family and move up in the world.
However, it very rarely comes with the society in mind. The Communist Manifesto states that if we abolish classes, then the idea of working for own gain will also disappear. Unfortunately, men, as thousands of years of history have shown, are quite selfish. As good as the idea of everyone working for the prosperity of society sounds, it is close to impossible because of laziness and selfishness. There is always a person who is lazy or selfish in a larger group of people.
(Omelas, 259). The fact these people do not know of a world outside their own is another reason they believe so strongly someone must struggle for many to prosper. “They also got along without the stock exchange, the advertisement, the secret police, and the bomb”. (Omelas, 259). The people of the village in Omelas were some who no longer knew happiness or joy which played a major role in the way their victims were made to suffer.
for the better. At the start of his presidency he mainly focused on bigger businesses to stimulate the economy, but as time went on he found himself being driven to the center of need, the working class. The New Deal had many upsides but it had many failures too, with programs being unconstitutional and an absolute waste of American time. FDR’s presidency with always be noteworthy and held on a pedestal for all of the effort he put into changing the U.S.. The New Deal also changed the way the U.S. was took upon the role of president.
The earning of the workers even after inflation have risen by just a small margin, making the living standards of the workers low, some of them unable to even provide for their families while others stay with their parents even after employment. Other workers have faced and met their death at their places of wok for lack of proper precautions especially those working under dangerous conditions like construction sites. Exploitation has moved to a whole new level where safety standards have been totally disregarded and workers have been left t work in conditions not suitable to work in. The safety equipments that the firms invest in are cheap and unsafe which they acquire so that their profits margins remain high. They on the other hand cannot fail to work because they have people looking up to them to provide and support.
The cause of the problem was that owners were selfish and very greedy. Most of the people at that time were not educated. As a result, workers went on strikes for higher wages and safer working conditions, but the owners were not going down with
The Greater Depression In the world of migrant agricultural workers during the 1930’s, the Great Depression seemed to be the cause of much controversial conditions. One such controversial topic was known as the “American Dream.” It was highly doubted by some who lived in that time period of its legitimacy. One problem of the dream was that to the landowners and rich, the treatment of the poor, or the people taking life day-by-day wasn’t a primary concern. This meant that fighting for their freedoms and rights, was not on the top of their to-do lists. However, to people such as John Steinbeck, Woody Guthrie, and Dorothea Lange, the situation regarding the workers was abominable and needed to be addressed.