Presentation Transcript

1. As part of the developed world do we have a responsibility to stop sweatshops? Are we captains of industry or are we robber barons?

2. Improving Conditions for the Working Class

3. “With all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than any other organization of men that ever existed. They have done more for decency, for honesty, for education, for the betterment of the race, for the developing of character in men, than any other association of men.”
4. Improving Conditions for the Working Class Industrialization had led to a dramatic increase in the gap between the rich and the poor People saw the unfairness of the situation under laissez-faire capitalism and began calling for change. 2 Primary ways to improve workers conditions was through government involvement and unionization Human Rights: the rights and freedoms that all humans are entitled to.
5. Luddites: -were a group that hated technology. Were upset that machines were replacing them. Broke into factories, destroyed machinery, and attacked business owners Governments intervened, sent in soldiers and said that machine breaking was punishable by death
6. Government Involvement Factory Acts: -the first regulations placed by the British government to better factory conditions. Ie, working hours, child labour, etc.. Examples include:-the progression of children working from max 12 hours a day, to 9 hours a day, to only half days. By 1878, children under 10 had compulsory education.
7. people began to see that decent working conditions, fair wages, reasonable working hours, and the opportunity of education were rights that all citizens deserved. Equal opportunity: -policies and practices in employment and other areas that do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, colour, age, gender, national origin, religon, mental or physical disability.
8. Unionization Labour Unions: group of people who try to improve their the working conditions and wages for either a specific group of workers or an entire industry.
9. Union Strategies: Use their strength in numbers to improve wages or conditions Sometimes use strikes or work stoppages as tools to force management to change certain policies
10. Winnipeg General Strike Originally unions were illegal in the industrial revolution In 1919, companies had made huge profits due to world war one. But working conditions were dismal, workers got paid little.
11. 30 000 people went on strike, effectively shutting down the city for six weeks government sent in RCMP to restore order resulting in injuries and two deaths
12. Union Criticisms Interfered with the economy, creating inflated wages, which caused business’s to charge more for their goods Resulted in increase in the cost of living for everyone Unions protect the jobs of workers who are unproductive, unskilled, or unsuited to do their jobs