Knights of Labor – an American Labor MovementEssay Preview: Knights of Labor – an American Labor MovementReport this essayRUNNING HEAD: KNIGHTS OF LABOR – AN AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENTKnights of Labor – An American Labor MovementStephen Paul Mader Jr.Park UniversityAbstractI have learned that gratitude is the best medicine for all stressors in life. I have come to learn how to appreciate what I have, rather than worry about what I think I want. In order to come to a state of mind that, I believe, could heal all Americans; I needed to learn what those who have gone before me did so I can see what I have. In terms of employment and rights of workers my favorite study thus far has been the Knights of Labor. The Knights fought for rights in a way that was far more advanced for their time and has inspired me to revisit their ideology. In short the Knights of Labor were a union trying to harmonize employees and management so that everyone enjoyed a better life. Today I can enjoy a better life from some of the efforts of the Knights.
Knights of Labor – An American Labor MovementThe greatest instruments we have in support of analyzing the effects of unionism begin in the 19th century. The National Labor Union was founded in 1866 but only lasted six years although it was enough to motivate the labor movement to form a single federation. On December 1869, seven members of the Philadelphia tailors union, headed by Uriah Smith Stephens and James L. Wright, established a secret union under the name, the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor. During the 1870s the economy was going through harsh times with high unemployment rates and wage reductions. Strikes were popping up throughout the country and deaths were resulting from their violence. The National Labor Union collapsed in 73 which brought about even more disorder. The effects of these mayhems are today known as the Great Uprising of 1877; a social earthquake.
One union that survived the depression of the Great Uprising is considered to be the most honorable and peaceful; the Knights of Labor. This paper is intended to demonstrate what the Knights of Labor have done that resulted in the greatest labor movement still being fought to this date. One major effect unions provide that benefit both the firm and the workers is a sense of community. According to Cynthia Estlunds Working Together: How workplace Bonds Strengthen a Diverse Democracy, she states, “Similarly, collective voice mechanisms like unions can enhance a democratic society by promoting workplace interactions among workers from diverse backgrounds.” The Catholic Church advocates for labor unions as a vehicle for improving working conditions
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Source: National Coalition for Labor Justice (www.nacj.org)
If you’re unemployed, you’re going to benefit a union, a union of good people.
- This work can be a positive. But it can also lead the worker to seek professional help for the cause of being employed. What many people overlook is that unions are typically defined as a movement of workers who are part of the same political/economic system (especially in a political machine where the worker is often a member of the corporate elite). When a union becomes politicized, it has a negative impact on our environment, people, and society. And if it is politically motivated, a union’s impact on work itself can have a damaging effect on the working conditions of the workers the organization represents.
When your labor movement becomes highly organized, your potential benefits are diminished, as you no longer have a choice to support your own individual struggles or to support a union. As the U.S. labor movement slowly grows, unions become a tool to organize workers in more diverse roles within the population, which is not unique to the United States, but has been happening throughout history, such as in Europe.
Source: Working Class Action Fund (www.workingclassactionfund.org)
When unions are too politically oriented, they tend to promote themselves as being good, inclusive, and cooperative, which means that they tend not to represent the interests of working class Americans who feel disenfranchised and oppressed.
Under union management, there is a long-term positive effect on the working situation of low paid and underemployed American workers, as there is a downward trend on their living standards which ultimately results in a reduction in the ability and investment that a business is required by its workforce. So, to put it better, it’s difficult to argue that the ability of one worker to work will not diminish the possibility for that same worker to succeed in an era of economic insecurity, joblessness, and unemployment.
But union management is not a good or bad outcome for the working poor. The U.S. labor movement has provided valuable social and political support throughout history and is part of a movement that seeks to build a better country (especially if it can lead to good health and employment opportunities for the working poor). Many of their successes have been positive for the poor.
In addition, the U.S. labor movement has provided a vital tool to build a more democratic future.
The working poor, of course, enjoy a better labor future through employment, less food and less crime, and greater financial and educational stability than the nonworking poor. Many of them are looking for employment and are happy being part of a decent society. The fact that the average working family has less health care coverage than their nonworking peers and can easily afford an