Labor Unions History

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The overall purpose of labor unions is for workers to be able to come together to collectively discuss and debate working conditions, salaries, health insurance, overtime pay, breaks, vacations, and many other aspects of a work contract. Labor unions came about after the Civil War, in response to the industrial economy, when many ideological positions were held on the idea for equal and just working rights. Considering not everyone agreed upon this idea, many discrepancies lie about debating the importance of labor unions. Some might say labor unions are simply another problem for the economy, creating an ongoing struggle between workers and management, while others believe labor unions create the foundation for employee freedom and rights. …show more content…
Due to the labor unions movement affectively carved out a social pathway towards justice, equality, and fairness for all workers by reconstructing the working circumstances. Before the movement of labor unions, women were not allowed a pregnancy leave, the conditions of the work environment were sweatshops, workplaces did not have standards or regulations, collective bargaining did not exist, child labor was still allowed, and the wages made barely allowed families to make it through a month. When labor unions were nonexistent women would not be paid for a specific amount of weeks because of their pregnancy, and in several cases have been laid off because of their absence. Along with no pay for holidays, sick days, and maternity leaves, the work conditions were sweatshops. A sweat shop is a make shift location where health and safety hazards occur because of horrible health conditions including unsanitary bathrooms, eating grounds, and hazards including unsafe ladders, swings, and overhanging material. In a sweatshop one person is in charge and all the workers obtained fear and intimidation when speaking aloud about their beliefs in the formation of …show more content…
Labor unions created the foundation for the middle class for millions of American workers, including benefits such as paid health care, pensions, social security, pensions, and minimum wage. Starting the in 1870s, industries began giving out services of company doctors to their workers. Offering health insurance to workers increased the rate at which people began accepting jobs considering their newfound benefits including doctor visits, dental visits, hospital surgeries, and much more. Labor unions offer health insurance to all employees because it increases the number of laborers along with allowing each family fair insurance rates. Pensions are one of the most crucial benefits that unions allow their employees to obtain. A pension is a regular payment made during a person’s retirement from an investment from either that person or their employer made throughout their working life. Without pensions, employees would not have money to rely on for the rest of their life. Along with pensions is social security, which allows assistance to people with no income or and inadequate income. Social security provides benefits to retired workers, unemployed workers, and disable workers. It provides a sense of stability to lean on when faced with misfortune, retirement, or challenges. While some employers may ask employees to stay for overtime, a law remains in act stating that
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