Introduction
The organized labor movement, which is currently a powerful body advocating for the rights of workers, began in the early nineteenth century. Prior to the movement, workers used to suffer silently in the hands of their employees. As it were, the employees, relying on their employers for virtually all basic human needs, could not afford to protest. However, a myriad of events led to the awakening of the workers. The employees started uniting against their oppressive employers who, incidentally, had the support of the political authorities of the day. Despite various hurdles, including suppression by the manufacturers and the political authorities, the workers’ common grievances united them, culminating in the formation of the successful organized labor movement which exists to date, protecting the rights of employees. This write-up explores the circumstances that led to organized labor movement in the nineteenth century.
Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution led to the replacement of the shop systems with large factories where people were hired to offer their services (Social Studies Center, n.d). Despite their hard labor, the employees did not have any hope of gaining financial independence. With time, it became necessary for the workers to form labor unions. Such unions demanded improved working conditions and treatment from the employers. It was conceived that forming labor unions would empower the laborers in the factories. As a result, they would be able to push for their rights such as commensurate financial compensation, humane working conditions in the factories, fair taxation and freedom from long working hours (Social Studies Center, n.d). This led to the rise of the organized movement as the various labor unions joined into a more powerful organization.
Strikes and Boycotts
As already mentioned, the industrial revolution led to the factory systems where people were employed. Poor working conditions and oppressive treatment necessitated strikes and boycotts (Susan, 2013). The strikes were based on the premise that if the laborers could stop the production process for some time, the associated losses would force their employers to heed to their grievances and improve their working conditions. Although some strikes and stoppages resulted in disastrous effects such as deaths and blacklisting of some union members, they contributed significantly to the rise of the organized labor movement (Susan, 2013). Some notably successful strikes and stoppages in the nineteenth century included the Cripple Creek Miner’s Strike (1894) and New Orleans General Strike (1892). The success of various strikes inspired the development of the labor movement with a view to having a strong front for demanding better working conditions and treatment of employees by the employers and the manufacturers.
Pay Cuts
Pay cuts was one of the major reasons that led to the formation of the labor movement. The employers had been reducing the workers’ remuneration, despite working for long hours under harsh conditions (US History, 2013). However, the employees could not complain, because doing so would put their jobs in jeopardy. However, persistent pay cuts drove the workers to the limit. In July 1877 for example, people working in the railroad unit of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company staged a strike, demanding better pay (US History, 2013). The boycott was triggered by the company’s order that the workers’ salary be reduce by 10%. The strike which started as a small boycott in Martinsburg, West Virginia, spread in other regions, including Pennsylvania (US History, 2013). Although it was later stopped, the mass strike set ground for the organized labor movement in America. Despite the fact that the strike ended disastrously, it made the people realize that if they united, they would succeed in demanding their rights as workers.
Deplorable Working Conditions
Workers performed their duties in deplorable conditions in the factories. They had been working in such conditions for decades. The factory owners did not invest in improving the working conditions of the employees, despite making huge profits from the workers’ efforts. The factories were poorly ventilated, lacked adequate lighting and sanitation, as well as safe fire exits and protection from dangerous machinery (Susan, 2013). The workers, with a view to demanding for better working conditions, formed labor movements at the local and state levels, and later at the national rank. In the 1830s in Connecticut, for example, laborers formed organizations and actively agitated for “a ten hour day, abolition of imprisonment for debt, improved working conditions, reform of the tax system, universal manhood suffrage, and abolition of banks and monopolies”(Susan, 2013). The Connecticut workers, like laborers in other regions, were inspired by the Jacksonian democracy. The overriding objective was to demand for healthy working conditions which did not put the workers in obvious risks as they performed their duties.
Oppression by Manufacturers
Manufacturers and factory owners oppressed their laborers. The oppression took many forms, including poor remuneration and retrenchment of workers without valid justifications. Moreover and as already mentioned, the employees were forced to work in dehumanizing conditions (Susan, 2013). After putting up with these oppressive working conditions for decades, it was only natural for them to come together with a view to breaking from their masters’ oppression. This, coupled with other circumstances, led to the rise of the organized labor movement.
Common Grievances among Workers
Laborers working in various regions of the nation had similar grievances: poor working conditions, inadequate compensation, oppressive employers, and deprivation of certain basic human and political rights (Susan, 2013; US History, 2013). The existence of common problems inspired the workers in different parts of the country to unite in the fight for common good. This was evident following the mass strike in Connecticut (Susan, 2013). The striking laborers were supported not only by the members of their own society, but also compatriots in Pennsylvania and other areas. The spread of that particular boycott to other regions was an indication that the problems that Connecticut workers were complaining about were also being experienced by their counterparts from other regions. News of boycotts in various regions spread and, because laborers in other regions identified with the issues being articulated, they joined in unity. As the workers cooperated for common good, they laid the basis for the formation of the organized labor movement that advocated for laws leading to better working conditions and treatment for the working populace (Susan, 2013). Effectively, the fact that there were common grievances among laborers in different regions of the nation paved way for the rise of the organized labor movement which exists to date.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the industrial revolution led to widespread factories, necessitating employment of laborers to work there. This in turn led to poor working conditions. The disgruntled employees staged boycotts to force their employers to improve their working conditions. This led to the rise of the organized labor movement, purposely to empower the workers so that they could have strong bargaining powers. The labor movement saw to the passing of important laws which sought to improve the working conditions of the working population.
References
Social Studies Center. (n.d). The Labor Union Movement in America. Retrieved 1 May, 2013
Susan, E.G. (2013). The Rise of Organized Labor in Nineteenth Century Connecticut Case
Study: The South Norwalk Hatters. Retrieved 1 May, 2013 from http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/cthistory/81.ch.05.x.html
US History. (2013). The Great Upheaval. Retrieved 1 May, 2013 from
http://www.ushistory.org/us/37a.asp
