Labor Unions and Reform Laws

1. Labor Unions and Reform Laws Mr. Westfall’s World History

2. Background • Factory workers were faced with… • Long hours • Dangerous working conditions • And the threat of being laid off • …so as people became more active in politics workers would join together in voluntary associations called…

3. Role of the Union • Collective Bargaining – negotiations between workers and employers • Worked for working conditions, higher pay… • If demands were not met the unionized members would… • Skilled workers led the way in forming unions, they could use their talent as a means of negotiation

4. Struggle of Unions (GB) • Combinations Acts of 1799 and 1800 – outlawed unions and strikes • Parliament would repeal the Combination Acts in 1824 • By 1875 Unions would be in full swing and had won the right to strike and peacefully picket

5. In the US • Unions formed in the early 1800’s • 1886 the American Federation of Labor was formed out of several different labor unions • The AFL members would win higher wages and shorter hours

6. Other Reform Laws • Factory Act of 1833 – Illegal to hire children under the age of nine • Mines Act of 1842 – prevented women and children to work underground • Ten Hours Act of 1847 – do I really need to explain this?

7. Karl Marx • Wrote his ideas in the Communist Manifesto • Society is split into warring classes • Between middle class employers (bourgeoisie) and the lower class workers (proletariat)

8. His Philosophy • Capitalist system would destroy itself • Factories would drive small artisans out of business • The proletariat would revolt against the minority that held the wealth • Workers sharing the profit would give economic equality to all • Workers would control the gov’t through a “dictatorship of the proletariat” • After a period of cooperative living gov’t would wither away