Labor Unions and Management
A labor union is an organization of employed workers that formed to undertake collective bargaining with employers and to try to achieve improved working conditions for its members.
Labor Unions go back all the way to the development of America. Starting when the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, several of the pilgrims were craftsmen. These were considered primitive unions, or guilds of not just carpenters but also cabinet makers, cordwainers and cobblers made their appearance as well. Although many early attempts at labor unions failed, during the 19th century and the start of the Industrial Revolution, workers preserved and began union traditions that continue today. The purpose of forming unions was so that members could speak out and seek fair solutions when it came to working conditions, to improve job security, and increase wages and fringe benefits without the fear of penalty.
These members played a significant role in the struggle for independence. After the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, the unions, referring to "in the pursuit of happiness" wanted shorter hours and higher pay. The printers were the first to go on strike in 1786 in Philadelphia when the printers quit their jobs to protest a cut in wages. Since Philadelphia was the largest city in the Colonies at the time, it was the place where there were numerous attempt to unionize, but they were usually temporary because of the threat of criminal prosecution for labor-union activities. Following this strike the cabinet makers went in 1796; carpenters in 1797; and then the cordwainers in 1799. By the 1820's numerous local unions had formed buy they were purely local in character and loose in structure. A number of them were only temporary and usually disappeared at the end of the strike. The unfavorable attitude of the courts hindered union growth and the emergence of unions was paralleled by the formation of employer's association, which sought and employed
Labor Unions go back all the way to the development of America. Starting when the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, several of the pilgrims were craftsmen. These were considered primitive unions, or guilds of not just carpenters but also cabinet makers, cordwainers and cobblers made their appearance as well. Although many early attempts at labor unions failed, during the 19th century and the start of the Industrial Revolution, workers preserved and began union traditions that continue today. The purpose of forming unions was so that members could speak out and seek fair solutions when it came to working conditions, to improve job security, and increase wages and fringe benefits without the fear of penalty.
These members played a significant role in the struggle for independence. After the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, the unions, referring to "in the pursuit of happiness" wanted shorter hours and higher pay. The printers were the first to go on strike in 1786 in Philadelphia when the printers quit their jobs to protest a cut in wages. Since Philadelphia was the largest city in the Colonies at the time, it was the place where there were numerous attempt to unionize, but they were usually temporary because of the threat of criminal prosecution for labor-union activities. Following this strike the cabinet makers went in 1796; carpenters in 1797; and then the cordwainers in 1799. By the 1820's numerous local unions had formed buy they were purely local in character and loose in structure. A number of them were only temporary and usually disappeared at the end of the strike. The unfavorable attitude of the courts hindered union growth and the emergence of unions was paralleled by the formation of employer's association, which sought and employed
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