-
13th Amendment to The U.S. Constitution
The 13th amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. This was a huge improvement on human rights in American society. Slavery had deep societal, historical, and economic influences in the U.S., and the abolition of such was a necessary change. -
Knights of Labor
This Labor organization was the first to make a large impact on employer-employee relations and the most important of it's time. Although it's time of existence is relatively small compared to it's successor (the AFL), it reached a peak of 700,000 members. The KOL was originally a secret organization made to protect it's member's from their employers, which became open to the public in 1877; this caused the organization quickly grow and have a larger national impact until it's collapse in 1886. -
Haymarket Riot
The Haymarket riot started off as a peaceful demonstration aimed at supporting workers who went on strike because of terrible working conditions and protesting the death of seven workers by police. When police intervened and tried to break up the demonstration, an unknown individual with ties to anarchy and conspiracy threw a dynamite bomb at the police; chaos and gunfire ensued leaving seven police and at least four civilians dead. The riots induced increased support of the labor movement. -
The American Federation of Labor
The AFL was the most impactful labor organization of it's period, and in it's origins replaced the Knight of Labor after the KOL became a defunct organization. The AFL was a loosely based organization of craft unions dedicated to reducing hours, increasing wages, and ensuring members rights. The AFL later merged with it's largest competitor, the Congress for Industrial Organization, to form an organization that comprised one-third of all non-agricultural workers (1955). -
The Creation of Labor Day
Canadians created their own labor celebration day in 1872 after the sovereign legalization of unions. This inspired unions in the U.S. to create their own day which came to fruition in 1882 after efforts started to create a movement of labor celebration on September 5th. Full legal installment of the holiday came after the national Pullman strikes which pressured President Cleveland to make Labor Day an official U.S. holiday after it was clear that workers should be heard and respected. -
The Pullman Strike
The Pullman strike was a nationwide strike instigated by railroad workers in Pullman, Chicago (a factory town). The Strikes led to the deaths of 30 people, and the involvement of more than 250,000 railroad workers all opposing unfair wages, rent, and labor practices. The strike was unsuccessful in gaining more rights, but the national epidemic which it caused led President Cleveland and the rest of the nation to recognize Labor Day as an official U.S. holiday. -
Shirtwaist Factory Fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of New York City, and one of the largest ever in the U.S. The factory killed 146 textile workers, most of them being women being between the ages of 16 and 23. Employers had locked the entrances and exits of the building to prevent the workers from exiting out of schedule or from stealing; which is what caused so many deaths. The tragedy caused new regulation regarding labor safety standards and new unions. -
The Wagner Act
Also known as the National Labor Relations Act, the Wagner Act was the most essential piece of labor legislation in U.S. history. This act asserted the U.S. government's authority over employer-employee relations with the creation of the National Labor Relations Board; and established the right for employees to form unions and collectively bargain. The Wagner act was created by democratic senator Robert Wagner in 1935 and passed under Roosevelt's presidency. -
1930s General Motors Sit-Down
The Flint sit-down strikes of 1936-1937 led to the unionization of Auto-Workers, who had been subjected to inhumane treatment by General Motors. Workers were not allowed to unionize and were constantly under threat of their superiors who had ultimate authority over workers. The sit-down led to violence when company police and city police opened fire on the unarmed crowd killing 2. -
Taft-Hartley Act
This act, which was enacted due to increased effect on overall commerce from business-labor disputes, implemented many regulations to business and labor practices. Banned practices include: wildcat (unauthorized union workers) strikes, closed shops, communism (red scare), union shops and others. Although being vetoed by Truman, the bill had large bipartisan support and passed in both congress and the senate.
