The First Unions
Forming the First Unions
The Beginning of Unions
In the late 1800s, unions began to form. Workers in various industries demanded better treatment and working conditions.
The first union formed was the Knights of Labor.
In this union, any worker, skilled or unskilled, could join.
The Knights of Labor fought for two main things: shorter hours and better pay.
At the time, workers would work 12-hour days for six days out of the week.
Knights of Labor seal, labor union
Expanding Representation
The Knights of Labor grew to be very large and contained workers from too many industries for proper representation.
This massive growth led to the formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
The AFL was limited to skilled workers only.
Skilled workers are individuals that work in a profession that requires a specific skill.
The AFL was the first union to fight for the 8-hour work day.
What was an issue that the Knights of Labor experienced?
The union could not get enough members to join.
The union only represented skilled workers.
The union became too big for proper representation.