Why would the Knights of Labor oppose child labor beyond the obvious reason that children should not be forced to work? What about their opposition to convict labor?
Didn't the Knights of Labor fight for equal treatment of all workers?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Labor
The Knights of Labor, a prominent labor union in the late 19th century, opposed child labor and convict labor for several reasons beyond the basic premise that children should not be forced to work. Here's an explanation of their concerns regarding both issues:
1. Child labor opposition:
The Knights of Labor opposed child labor not only because children should have the opportunity to receive an education and have a healthy childhood, but also due to the negative impact child labor had on adult workers and the overall labor movement. Here are a few reasons for their opposition:
a. Economic concerns: The presence of child labor led to a surplus of workers, which increased competition for jobs and drove down wages. Children were often paid significantly lower wages than adults, allowing employers to exploit child workers and undermine the bargaining power of adult workers.
b. Safety and health hazards: Child labor often exposed children to dangerous working conditions and long working hours, impairing their physical and mental well-being. The Knights of Labor saw this as a violation of workers' rights and believed that children should be protected from such exploitation.
c. Unionization challenges: Child labor posed challenges for unionization efforts. Due to their vulnerability and lack of legal rights, children were often unable to actively participate in the labor movement. The Knights of Labor recognized that eliminating child labor was crucial for building a robust labor force capable of organizing and advocating for better working conditions.
2. Opposition to convict labor:
The Knights of Labor also opposed the use of convict labor, which involved employing prison inmates as a cheap workforce. Here's why they opposed this practice:
a. Unfair competition: Convict labor was seen as unfair competition for free workers. Employers could pay convicts lower wages, leading to additional wage suppression and diminishing job opportunities for non-convict workers.
b. Worker exploitation: The Knights of Labor believed that prisoners were being exploited through convict labor, as they were forced to work long hours in harsh conditions without adequate protection or fair compensation. The union aimed to protect the interests and labor rights of all workers, including those within the incarcerated population.
c. Moral concerns: There were also moral objections to using convict labor. The Knights of Labor saw it as a form of punishment that extended beyond the intended purpose of rehabilitation. They argued that prisoners should not be subjected to forced labor when their primary focus should be on reform and reintegrating into society.
In summary, the opposition of the Knights of Labor to child labor and convict labor extended beyond the obvious ethical reasons. They also raised economic, safety, unionization, and moral concerns, aiming to protect the rights and well-being of workers and prevent exploitation and unfair competition within the labor market.