Labor Union

Labor Union

Introduction

Labor is a broad term that the economist uses in referring to all the physical and mental talents people use in producing goods and services. Economists view entrepreneurial ability, with its special significance in capitalistic economies, separately from labor. Thus, the services of a ditch digger, retail clerk, machinist, teacher, professional football player, and nuclear physicist all fall under the general heading of labor (Labor, 2011).

History of U.S. labor unions

To deal with the history of labor in America we must also deal with the history of capitalism. Trade (or craft) unions have been around in primitive shape and form since prior to the American Revolution. Early American craft unions, or guilds, included carpenters, cordwainers, cabinet makers, and cobblers. Consider the following practical examples of the intersection between the American Revolution and the labor movement (Reynolds, 1985):

The Continental Congress met in “Carpenter's Hall” in Philadelphia in 1776, where they produced and signed the “Declaration of Independence.

Well-known colonialists who dressed up as Mohawk Indians during the Boston Tea Party of 1773 were carpenters.

Though nearly all of the founding fathers were from the upper class, most of the colonial population was made up of poor laborers who owned no property of their own. The middle class, if you could even speak of such a thing at this time, were the artisans or craft workers.

This brings us to the economic nature of the early colonies. Much of the economy was agrarian. In other words, it was based on farming and agriculture. Black chattel slaves or indentured servants were often used to work the land. In cities the economy was made up of the craft/trade unions mentioned earlier. Often the artisan would bring an apprentice alongside himself to learn his craft.

It wasn't until after the revolution that strike action began to surface on a small local scale. According to the article Labor Union Movement of America printers were the first to go on strike in New York in 1794 “in pursuit of happiness“ through shorter hours and higher pay. Cabinet makers struck in 1796, carpenters in Philadelphia in 1797, and cordwainers in 1799.

The main factor that changed the landscape of the American Labor Movement forever was the Industrial Revolution of the early 1800's. By the 1830's the revolution had come from England to America, bringing factories, utilization of steam engines and water power, and the need for mass amounts of labor. The negative effects accompanying this industrialization were unhealthy working conditions, pollution, low wages, child labor, grueling hours, and repetitive, alienating work (Laurie, 1989). It was really the Civil War, though, with the defeat of the agrarian south, which marked the turning point for industrial capitalism in America. At that point capitalism became the dominant form of economy and helped to launch a stronger, larger, and more radical Labor Movement. 

Various Unions

Unions long have been viewed as a way for workers to gain job protections, boost wages and achieve benefits. Many business leaders see unions as limiting employer flexibility and sapping profits.The right to organize is from 1842 in the ...