When the American Federation of Labor, led by Samuel Gompers, talked with company owners about giving better pay and working conditions to workers, they were engaging in which of the following?(1 point)

Responses

apprenticeship programs

picketing

collective bargaining

strikes

The correct answer is collective bargaining.

When the American Federation of Labor (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers, talked with company owners about giving better pay and working conditions to workers, they were engaging in collective bargaining.

Collective bargaining is a process where representatives of workers, such as labor unions, negotiate with employers to seek agreements on wages, working hours, working conditions, and other employment-related issues.

To answer this question, you need to understand the definitions of the given options:

1. Apprenticeship programs: These are formal programs that combine on-the-job training and classroom instruction. While apprenticeships can improve skills and lead to better pay and conditions, they are not specifically related to negotiating with employers.

2. Picketing: Picketing is a form of protest where workers gather outside a workplace to express their grievances. It involves public demonstrations and can sometimes involve a strike, but it is not the same as negotiating with employers directly.

3. Collective bargaining: This is the correct answer. It refers to the process mentioned above, where labor representatives negotiate with employers to reach agreements on employment conditions for workers.

4. Strikes: Strikes occur when workers collectively refuse to work as a form of protest or to put pressure on employers to meet their demands. While strikes can be one outcome of unsuccessful collective bargaining, they are not the act of negotiating itself.

In conclusion, when the American Federation of Labor, led by Samuel Gompers, talked with company owners about giving better pay and working conditions to workers, they were engaging in collective bargaining.