The American labor movement is a social and political effort by workers in the United States to organize into unions to protect and advance their rights and interests in the workplace. It emerged in response to the Industrial Revolution and the harsh working conditions that accompanied it, such as long hours, low wages, unsafe environments, and child labor
. Key aspects of the American labor movement include:
- Formation of Early Unions: The first sustained trade unions appeared in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers formed in 1794. National federations like the National Labor Union (1872) and the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (1881) sought to unify workers and push for reforms such as the eight-hour workday and child labor prohibition
- Major Organizations: The American Federation of Labor (AFL), founded in 1886 under Samuel Gompers, became a dominant force by organizing skilled workers into trade-specific unions and focusing on practical workplace improvements and collective bargaining. The AFL excluded many unskilled workers, women, and minorities. Later, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) emerged in the 1930s to organize industrial workers, including many Black workers for the first time
- Goals and Achievements: The labor movement fought for better wages, reasonable working hours, safer conditions, and benefits like health insurance and retirement aid. It also played a crucial role in ending child labor and influencing labor legislation, including the Wagner Act (1935) that protected union organizing rights, the Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) establishing minimum wage and overtime pay, and civil rights laws in the 1960s
- Challenges and Exclusions: Early unions often excluded women, African Americans, immigrants, and unskilled workers, who sometimes formed their own unions. The movement also faced opposition from employers, government forces, and legislation like the Taft-Hartley Act (1947), which restricted union activities and required anti-communist oaths from union leaders
- Historical Impact: Union membership and influence peaked in the mid-20th century, particularly during and after World War II, when unions helped shape the economic and political landscape of the country. The AFL and CIO merged in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO, a major federation representing millions of workers
In summary, the American labor movement is the collective effort of workers to improve their working conditions, wages, and rights through unionization and political advocacy, shaping much of the modern American workplace and labor laws
