How did the Knights of Labor and the AFL differ from earlier unions?
Earlier unions or guilds represented worker in specific skilled crafts. The Knights of Labor covered many kinds of workers -- both skilled and unskilled.
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The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) differed from earlier unions in several ways:
1. Membership: The Knights of Labor aimed to be an all-inclusive union, welcoming all workers regardless of race, gender, or skill level. In contrast, earlier unions mostly organized skilled workers only, excluding unskilled and marginalized workers.
2. Goals: The Knights of Labor had a broader vision for social and economic change, seeking to create a cooperative commonwealth where workers controlled industries. They advocated for issues like eight-hour workdays, equal pay for men and women, and the abolition of child labor. Earlier unions mainly focused on improving the specific conditions and wages of their own members.
3. Organizational Structure: The Knights of Labor had a decentralized structure with local assemblies and a loose national organization, allowing for a broad base of membership but making it challenging to maintain unity and coordination. The AFL, on the other hand, had a more centralized structure, organizing skilled trade unions under the umbrella of a national federation.
4. Tactics: The Knights of Labor advocated for a range of tactics, including strikes, boycotts, and political action. They also believed in using education and public opinion to advance workers' interests. In contrast, earlier unions often relied mainly on strikes and collective bargaining.
5. Relationship with Employers: The Knights of Labor aimed for a cooperative relationship with employers and sought to bring them into their vision of worker-controlled industries. In contrast, earlier unions were often adversarial in their approach, focusing on negotiations and collective action as a means to achieve better working conditions.
Overall, the Knights of Labor and the AFL represented shifts in the labor movement by expanding membership, broadening goals beyond immediate workplace concerns, organizing a range of workers, and experimenting with new strategies and tactics.
To understand the differences between the Knights of Labor (KOL) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) compared to earlier unions, we must first delve into a brief background on early labor movements in the United States.
During the 19th century, as industrialization progressed, workers faced harsh working conditions, low wages, and long working hours. In response, workers began organizing themselves into unions to collectively demand better working conditions and rights from employers. Some key early unions included the National Labor Union (NLU), established in 1866, and the Knights of Labor and the AFL, which emerged later.
1. National Labor Union (NLU): The NLU was the first national labor federation in the United States. It aimed to unite workers across different industries to advocate for better wages, an eight-hour workday, and other labor reforms. The NLU represented a broad range of workers, including both skilled and unskilled workers, and campaigned for social reforms beyond mere labor issues. However, the NLU declined in the 1870s due to internal conflicts and economic depressions.
2. Knights of Labor (KOL): The Knights of Labor, founded in 1869, was one of the largest labor organizations in the late 19th century. It differed from earlier unions in several ways:
a. Inclusiveness: Unlike earlier unions that primarily focused on skilled workers, the KOL aimed to unite all workers, including both skilled and unskilled, women and minority workers, and even those currently unemployed. It believed in the solidarity of all workers and promoted the idea of a "cooperative commonwealth" where workers would eventually control industry.
b. Social Reform: The KOL went beyond demanding better working conditions and sought to bring about broader social reforms. It fought for eight-hour workdays, abolition of child labor, equal pay for equal work, and political reforms like the direct election of public officials.
c. Secret Society: The KOL, for a portion of its existence, operated as a semi-secret organization, with initiations, rituals, and secret passwords. This secrecy was intended to protect members from employer retaliation and repression. However, the secretive nature of the KOL made it vulnerable to accusations of conspiracy and anarchism.
3. American Federation of Labor (AFL): The AFL, established in 1886, differed from earlier unions in several ways:
a. Skilled Labor Focus: The AFL focused primarily on skilled workers. It aimed to unite various independent craft unions, which represented workers with specific skills, such as carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. By organizing skilled workers, the AFL sought to increase their bargaining power in negotiations with employers.
b. Compact Organization: The AFL operated as a federation of individual craft unions, each having considerable autonomy. This structure allowed different unions to focus on specific industry concerns while maintaining central coordination and support from the AFL. It emphasized collective bargaining and negotiation rather than radical social reforms.
c. Exclusive Membership: The AFL had strict membership rules and limited its membership to skilled workers, excluding unskilled and semi-skilled workers, women, and minorities. This exclusivity aimed to maintain the influence and bargaining power of skilled workers within the organization.
In summary, the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor differed from earlier unions in terms of inclusiveness, goals, and organization. The KOL aimed to unite all workers, promoted broader social reforms, and operated as a semi-secret society. On the other hand, the AFL focused on skilled workers, emphasized collective bargaining, and had a more federated organizational structure.