-
First Srike
New York tailors protest a wage reduction -
First Union Created
The first union is organized in the United States by a group of New York men who worked as printers. -
Begining of a Trade Union
American workers create uonions and start to post prices for their work, demand shorter work days, and better working condit ions. However, this was only skilled workers. Industrail workers didn't play a part in early unions. -
Lowell Mill workers make a petition
Lowell Female Labor Reform Association petition the legislature for a 10-hour workday and in 1847 the first state (New Hampshire) creates a 10 hour work day law. -
First Nationwide Strike
The first nationwide strike with 100,000 railroad workers which stopped trains all over the U.S. Federal troops are called to break the strike. -
Department of Labor Created
The government creates the Department of Labor to protect the rights of workers. -
Clayton Act
This act legalizes nonviolent strikes and boycotts and gives benefits to workers. It is also the first time that the Supreme Court said unions were not just groups attempting to restrict trade and commerce. -
Taft-Hartley Act
Said that emplyers could sue unions. It also said that unions cannot make people join, cannot give money to political parties, and must give a 60 day notice before striking. -
Large Percentage of Workers in Unions
One third of all workers in the United States belong to a union. However, at this time (1960s) the percentage began to decline and only 12% of workers are enrolled in labor unions as of 2013. -
Employee Free Choice Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passes this act with a vote of 241-185. However in June the Republicans in the Senate block consideration of this act. The act would have protected workers’ right to join together in unions and make it harder for management to threaten workers wanting to organize a union.
