History of Labor Unions

Labor unions might get a bad rap with some people, but they really are designed to help people out. Once upon a time, people were didn’t have any regulations around to help them when their bosses weren’t playing fair. And while this might have been okay at one point, workers today don’t have to put up with this sort of treatment when they’re in a union. Created out of necessity, it seems that labor unions have come a long way since their inception.

Looking Out for You

The Industrial Revolution really began to take off in the 1800s, causing there to be more factories than other workplaces. In these factories, workers were expected to work long hours without breaks and to work in less than safe conditions. Though this was the norm, the workers began to realize this wasn’t probably the best way to make it to retirement. The concept of a union began in Europe when they were operating under the guild system. When this was the case, skilled and unskilled workers finally had rights to protection and to fair working conditions as well as wages. While this doesn’t mean things always worked out the way the workers wanted them to, at least they had a fighting chance.

American the Unionized

In the late 1800s was when the idea of a union really began to take off in the United States. The National Labor Union began in 1866, but it was used in more companies and factories as tie went on. This organization wasn’t very clear on its goals and it eventually disbanded without doing much for the workers it hoped to support. Then came the Knights of Labor in 1869, which was much larger and is still around today. This union worked to create normal working hours as well as to oppose the use of child labor in factories. Next came the American Federation of Labor which continued the fight for fair wages and reasonable working conditions.

Today’s Unions

But what do today’s unions look like? The Industrial Revolution has turned into a technology explosion. Today, for a fee, people in a union will get access to a number of different support options:

• Legal assistance
• Wage negotiations
• Salary protection
• Safety practices
• Salary negotations
• And more.

While some people believe that unions can also contribute to unfair hiring practices and work contracts, the truth is that the overall goal of a union is to do good. Those who are in unions that want to have more say in the process might choose to become a union rep for their company or for their division within the company. In doing so, they can begin to attend meetings and they will be able to speak up about what their workers want, as they are representing them.

With unions, workers are able to expect a certain amount of safety and respect when they go to work. And while not every company has a union in place, these safe practices have rubbed off on the market as a whole. Mostly.