Does America Need Labor Unions Today?
Alyssa Barker Sharon Kelly English 102 Section 401
November 24, 2012
Does America Need Labor Unions Today?
President John F. Kennedy once said, “The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all Americans.” Organized labor has a goal of helping workers get what they deserve in all aspects of their jobs such as salary, benefits, hours, working conditions, and so on. There are many criticisms of unionization but with the economy in the depressed state it is in now, it is important to identify ways to help stimulate its growth and unions will do just that. Essentially, labor unions are beneficial to the American economy because they strengthen the middle class and increase productivity. Trade unions have existed in some form from the beginning of colonial America. In these times, guilds were forming based off of the European guild system but these never really took off in America (Reynolds). The first recorded strike was conducted by the Philadelphia printers in 1786 over the demand for a minimum wage (Reynolds). Organized labor began to grow rapidly in the late 1800s with the foundation of the national trade union known as the American Federation of Labor (Reynolds). This organization set the stage for many other unions to come.
Throughout the history of unions, some strikes and organized protests have turned into violent and deadly riots. An example of this is the infamous Haymarket Square riots in Chicago, IL in 1886. In this riot, members of the Knights of Labor united to fight for an eight-hour workday. The demonstration turned deadly when a bomb killed several police officers and
November 24, 2012
Does America Need Labor Unions Today?
President John F. Kennedy once said, “The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all Americans.” Organized labor has a goal of helping workers get what they deserve in all aspects of their jobs such as salary, benefits, hours, working conditions, and so on. There are many criticisms of unionization but with the economy in the depressed state it is in now, it is important to identify ways to help stimulate its growth and unions will do just that. Essentially, labor unions are beneficial to the American economy because they strengthen the middle class and increase productivity. Trade unions have existed in some form from the beginning of colonial America. In these times, guilds were forming based off of the European guild system but these never really took off in America (Reynolds). The first recorded strike was conducted by the Philadelphia printers in 1786 over the demand for a minimum wage (Reynolds). Organized labor began to grow rapidly in the late 1800s with the foundation of the national trade union known as the American Federation of Labor (Reynolds). This organization set the stage for many other unions to come.
Throughout the history of unions, some strikes and organized protests have turned into violent and deadly riots. An example of this is the infamous Haymarket Square riots in Chicago, IL in 1886. In this riot, members of the Knights of Labor united to fight for an eight-hour workday. The demonstration turned deadly when a bomb killed several police officers and
Cited: Fitzpatrick, Laura. “The Minimum Wage.” Time Magazine. 24 July 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2012 Fletcher Jr., Bill Beacon Press, 2012. Print. Foner, Eric. and John A. Garraty. “National Labor Relations Act” History. 1991. Web. 8 Nov. 2012 Katel, Peter Leonard, Thomas C., (2000), The Very Idea of Applying Economics: The Modern Minimum Wage Controversy and Its Antecedents, History of Political Economy, 32, issue 5, p. 117- 144. Madland, David, and Nick Bunker. “Unions Boost Economic Mobility in U.S. States.” Center for American Progress Action Fund. 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 2 Nov. 2012. Prah, Pamela M. “Labor Unions’ Future” CQ Researcher. 2 Sept 2005: 709-32. Web. 22 Oct. 2012 Reynolds, Morgan Vrba, Sarah. “Walmart Accused of Illegally Firing Union Players.” Care2. 27 July 2012. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.