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Reforming the Workplace

Reforming the Workplace. Labor Unions. Writing to Learn Prompt. From the picture above, please respond to the following questions: Who do you think these children are and what are they doing?

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Reforming the Workplace

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  1. Reforming the Workplace Labor Unions

  2. Writing to Learn Prompt • From the picture above, please respond to the following questions: • Who do you think these children are and what are they doing? • Place yourself in the situation of these children. Could you see yourself working in a factory from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM 7 days a week? Why or why not? • Describe how you think quality of life was like for these children in 3 to 4 sentences.

  3. Child Labor Reform: • Low wages for unskilled workers in the late 1800’s caused many children to work to help support the family. • In 1900, more than 1.75 million children age 15 and under worked in mines, mills, and factories. • Marie Von Vorst-posed as a poor woman to investigate child labor conditions

  4. Child Labor Reform Continue: • Cheap Labor- children provided cheap labor for employers-40 cents a day-$2.40 a week • Florence Kelley led the progressive fight to end child labor • Her plan was to “investigate, educate, legislate, and enforce” • She served as a board member for the National Consumers’ League • She established about 60 local consumer leagues throughout the U.S. • National Child Labor Committee-worked to pass laws limiting child labor • In 1916 and 1919, Congress passed federal child labor laws • Supreme Court ruled that the laws were unconstitutional

  5. Safety in the Workplace • Progressive efforts worked with labor unions to fight for an eight-hour workday and higher wages • National Consumers' League led several efforts and as a result, many states passed minimum-wage laws and maximum-hour laws for women • In 1900, 35,000 people were killed in industrial accidents and 500,000 suffered injuries

  6. Safety in the Workplace • Triangle Shirtwaist Fire-1911 in New York • A fire broke out at the clothing factory where about 500 immigrant women worked • The women tried to escape but found the doors were locked from the outside by employers • 146 workers died • Led to laws that improved factory safety standards and working conditions • Labor leaders fought for compensation laws-laws that require money be paid to workers who have been injured on the job

  7. The Courts and Labor • Some business leaders were against the workplace regulations • State and federal courts used the 14th Amendment to fight against regulations • Regulations “took away” property without due process of law • 1898 U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could limit working hours in dangerous jobs • Muller v. Oregon Case 1908 • Supreme Court limited women’s working hours

  8. Labor Organizations • Union membership rose in from 800,000 in 1900 to 5 million in 1920 • Females were often discouraged from joining unions so they formed their own • Ex: Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL) 1903 • The American Federation of Labor (AFL) remains one of the strongest labor unions • Focus on skilled workers for better working conditions, higher pay, and union recognition • Some more radical unions supported socialism • Socialism-an economic system in which the government of the workers own and operate a country’s means of production • Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Union led by William “Big Bill” Haywood • Goal to overthrow capitalism • Included the workers left out by other unions like the AFL • Unskilled laborers, immigrants, women, African Americans, etc. • Union almost disappeared by 1920

  9. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHAsLSi_5Ac&feature=related • What led to the tragic event of the fire and the numerous deaths? • How could this have been prevented? • What safety regulations do you see or experience today that resulted from the factory fire?

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