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Labor Unions Born Out of Necessity and Strife Through History
The article surveys the origins of labor unions from early craft benevolent societies to modern federations. It notes the shift from wage resistance and mutual aid to organized collective bargaining and legal protections. It references key milestones like the 1786 Philadelphia printers strike, the Knights of Labor, AFL, CIO, and major federal laws shaping union rights from 1930s onward. It also contrasts union advances with periods of conflict and state intervention, concluding that unions can both help and harm depending on circumstances.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Noble Order of the Knights of Labor
Uriah S. Stephens
Philadelphia
Knights of Labor
International Union