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Knights of labor founded
The Knights of Labor began as a secret society of tailors in Philedelphia in 1869. The Knights Union included all workers in a given industry, including workers of all skill level and both sexes. This was important to the labor movement because they fought for the eight-hour day, abolition of child labor, and equal pay for equal work. -
Samuel Gompers founds the American Federation of Labor
The AFL was a loose grouping of smaller craft unions. Every member of the AFL was a skilled worker. This was important to the labor movement because Gompers was not afraid to call for a strike or boycott which were mostly successful. In most cases, the workers demands were completely or partially met, resulting in higher wages for skilled workers. -
International Ladies' Garment Workers Union founded
The ILGWU was one of the largest labor unions to represent workers in the women's garment industry in the U.S. and Canada. This was important to the labor movement because it brought innovative benefits to workers such as decent wages, safer working conditions, health clinics, and cooperative housing. -
Norris-La Guardia Act outlaws "yellow-dog" contracts
The Act states that yellow-dog contracts (pledges by workers not to join a labor union) are unenforceable in federal court and establishes that employees are free to form or join unions without employer interference. This Act was important to the labor movement because of its three provisions: protecting worker's self organization and liberty, removing jurisdiction from federal courts, and outlawing the yellow-dog contracts. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
The FLSA introduced the 44-hour seven-day workweek, established a national minimum wage, guaranteed "time-and-a-half" overtime for certain jobs, and prohibited most employment of minors. This was important to the labor movement because it led to other acts to help enforce this one and also helped workers to be treated fairly. -
AFL splinter group becomes the independent CIO
John Lewis saw no future for industrial unions within the AFL, so he decided to withdraw them and created the Congress of Industrial Organizations. This was important to the labor movement because it helped industrial workers and industrial unions which the AFL seen as unskilled laborors. -
Taft-Hartley Act
This law restricts the activities and power of labor unions. This Act is important to the labor movement because it prohibited strikes, boycotts, mass picketing, and states were allowed to pass right-to-work laws. -
Cesar Chaves begins organizing the first farmworkers' union
It is the only successful union ever established to defend the rights of those who grow and harvest the crops. This was important to the labor movement because they helped farmers across th US with their problems on and off the fields.
