History Of American Labor Movement by Chase Owen

Founding Of The National Labor Union - 1866

cowen59 — 2025-06-04 17:48:22 UTC

The National Labor Union also known as "NLU" dedicated a lot of there time to eight-hour work days. In 1868 Congress established a 8 hour work day for government employees. This fell apart during the 1970s depression

Founding Of The Knights Of Labor - 1869

cowen59 — 2025-06-04 17:49:06 UTC

As the NLU fades this organization grew in the 1870s. Their goal was to bring about a cooperative commonwealth of labor workers who would control their own work, abolishing the wages system. Ultimately fighting for higher wages, women’s economic rights, racial equality, laws against child labor, industrial unionism, and 8 hour days.

Formation of the American Federation of Labor - 1886

cowen59 — 2025-06-04 18:01:13 UTC

This organization is an alternative to the Knights Of Labor. The AFL takes a more conservative approach to labor activism. They focused on wages and other progressive demands that can be won through bargaining. This organization grew as the Knights Of Labor fell off.

Shirtwaist Strike In New York - 1909

cowen59 — 2025-06-04 18:07:17 UTC

People in the clothing industry which was primarily woman voted for a strike against low wage, long hours, and terrible working conditions. The strike lasted 11 weeks, finally the employers give in to meet most of their demands. Like shorter weeks and negotiations of working wages. Afterward thousands of members joined the Garment Workers Union.

Ludlow Massacre - 1914

cowen59 — 2025-06-06 13:07:47 UTC

This is one of the deadliest strikes in U.S. history. United mine workers protest horrendous work conditions in the Colorado mines, owned by John D Rockefeller. For a while they used violence but failed to break the will of the workers and families. The National Guard eventually attacked their tent colony with machine guns, killing several people and suffocating eleven children and two women to death under the tents. The union lost but they compromised with a 8 hour day and abolished child labor.

National Labor Relations Act law - 1935

cowen59 — 2025-06-06 13:19:47 UTC

Franklin Roosevelt signs the NLRA also known as the Wagner Act into law. This is one of the U.S. labor movements greatest victories. This act grants the right of private sector employees to assemble unions and bargain collectively, to strike. It also prohibits workers from engaging in union activity or filing charges against their employer. It investigates the charges of unfair labor practice.

the Committee for Industrial Organization is formed - 1935

cowen59 — 2025-06-06 13:49:08 UTC

The Congress Of Industrial Organization (CIO), purpose is to organize workers in mass-production industries. Ones like automobile industries and steel production to be their own large unions. Such as United Auto workers, the United Electrical Workers, and the United Steelworkers. It was an idea of "Industrial Unionism".

Fair Labor Standards Act is passed - 1938

cowen59 — 2025-06-06 14:18:19 UTC

The Law mandates a eight hour day and a forty hour week. If they were to work overtime the worker gets paid time and a half. It establishes a National minimum wage and the abolishment of child labor. It applied only to the people who work interstate commerce. Overtime this law got improved many times.

The Equal Pay Act - 1963

cowen59 — 2025-06-06 14:28:00 UTC

Kennedy Signs the equal pay act in 1963. This law ended wage inequality between sexes. This law forbids sex discrimination in the payment of wages. It allowed women's pay to rise significantly over the years.

Civil Rights Act - 1964

cowen59 — 2025-06-10 16:34:57 UTC

Lyndon Johnson signed the act on July 2nd, 1964. This act establishes the outlaw of workplace discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin. discrimination on age and disability were later added onto this act.

NAFTA into law - 1993

cowen59 — 2025-06-10 16:55:18 UTC

Bill Clinton signs the North American Free Trade Agreement on December 8th, 1993. This law attacks the workers and union under the disguise of a free market. It cuts back on a lot of regulations and even some social protections. zresulated in wage cuts, unions significant loss of power, and the loss of millions of U.S. jobs

Protest Against World Trade Organization - 1999

cowen59 — 2025-06-10 17:04:14 UTC

This occurred in Seattle on November 30th. This is the first major U.S. protest where thousands of protesters gather to fight against corporate globalization. they forced their way to acknowledgment.