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Florence Kelly
a Labor Union Activist, persuaded the Illinois Legislature to prohibit child labor and to limit the numbers of hours women could work -
Background on Workplace
In 1900 most laborers worked 10 or more hours a day for 6 days a week. These Laborers earned about $1.50 a day. Women and children earned even less. -
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union
The Interational Ladies' Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was oragnized in 1900 in New York City. They tried to unionize women workers. Throughout the early 1900's they grew rapidly and wanted to be recognized as a union but were denied by their employers. -
Open Shop vs. Closed Shop
Labor unions pushed for a closed shop, meaning they wanted everybody in the work place to belongs to a union. This would greatly benefit the unions because they would have more cntrol over the employers. The employers wanted a open shop, or a nonunionized workplace.This would allow the employers to control their workers more. -
The Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was founded in Chicago. They opposed capitalism. They accepted all all industrail workers and worked to better the wages for all. They developed forces for strikes and tried to better the workplace. -
Women Laborers
Many women earned less than 6 dollars a week. In addition many women could not increase their wages. They would be penalized for working too fast. -
Child Laborers
Many child laborers had never been to school, therefore, they could not read or write. Children, like women, were not paid as high of wages but still worked the same grueling hours. Many mothers were forced to send their children to work because the family was in poverty and needed all the money they could get. -
John Ryan
Catholic Church official Monsignor John Ryan called for the establishment of a minimum wage. Two years later states started passing laws for a minimum wage. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
On March 25, 1911 a fire broke out on the 8th floor of a 10 story building. This trapped around 500 female employees. Managers were afraid of the employees stealing fabric so most of the fire extis were locked making escape even more difficult. By the time the fire was controlled more than 140 workers had died. -
The Wobblies Strike Agianst Textile Mills
The Wobblies were members of the IWW. The pursued their goals by boycotts, stikes, and industrial sabotage. In 1912 they went on strike against textile mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to protest wage cuts. After two long months the mill owners gave in -
Minimum Wage
In 1938 Congress passed a national minimum-wage law. It set base wages for women and children. The wages waere set up to the approximate or equal normal standard of living.
