Labor, industrial
Organizations of laboring men for mutual protection and the advancement of their common interests are by no means new or peculiar to the
United States.
Tradesmen's guilds and societies were common in
London several centuries ago; but it was not until 1870 that such organizations began to be formidable and to have a national influence.
The first trades-union in this country was established by the tailors in 1803.
The first local union of printers was organized in 1831.
The first organized movement against the employment of convict labor was made in a convention of mechanics in
Utica, N. Y., in 1834.
In 1845 the first industrial congress had a meeting in New York.
From that time the progress of the labor movement, although at first imperceptibly slow, was assured.
In 1869 a secret association of workingmen, known as the
Knights of labor (q. v.), was organized at
Philadelphia.
Within a few years this association had its branches in every State of the
Union, and enrolled many thousands of members.
Many efforts were made at different times to effect a political organization of workingmen, but owing to dissensions and differences of opinion among those engaged in these movements, very little was accomplished save indirectly through the influence brought to bear upon the great political parties already in power.
In 1888 a department of labor was created by act of Congress, with headquarters in
Washington, D. C. This department is under the control of a commissioner of labor, whose duty it is “to acquire and diffuse among the people of the
United States useful information on subjects connected with labor, in the most general and comprehensive sense of that word, and especially upon its relation to capital; the hours of labor; the earnings of laboring men and women; and the means of promoting their material, social, intellectual, and moral prosperity.”
He is also especially charged, in accordance with the general design and duties prescribed by the law, “at as early a date as possible, and whenever industrial changes shall make in essential, to ascertain the cost of produc ing articles, at the time dutiable in the
United States, in leading countries where such articles are produced, by fully specified units of production, and under a classification showing the different elements of cost of such articles of production, including wages paid in such industries,” etc. Besides the national Department of Labor, there are bureaus of statistics and labor in nearly all of the States, the principal objects of which are to collect and disseminate information on all matters of practical interest and value both to employers and employed.
In 1886 most of the trades-unions in the
United States, through their representatives in a convention at
Columbus, O., united in a national organization called the American Federation of Labor.
In 1900 this organization comprised 1,017 local unions, with a total membership of 850,000, and embraced more than seventy different trades.
Labor legislation.
The following States have adopted laws prohibiting
boycotting in terms:
Colorado,
Illinois, and
Wisconsin.
The States and Territories having laws prohibiting
blacklisting in terms are
Alabama,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Florida,
Georgia,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nevada,
North Dakota,
Oklahoma,
Utah,
Virginia,
Washington, and
Wisconsin.
The following States and Territories have laws which may be fairly construed as prohibiting
boycotting:
Alabama,
Connecticut,
Florida,
Georgia,
Maine,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
New Hampshire, New York,
North Dakota,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
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South Dakota,
Texas,
Utah,
Vermont, and
Wisconsin.
The following States and Territories have laws which may be fairly construed as prohibiting
blacklisting:
Georgia,
Michigan,
New Hampshire, New York,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Rhode Island, and
South Dakota.
In the following States it is unlawful for any employer to exact an agreement either written or verbal, from an employe not to join or become a member of any labor organization, as a condition of employment:
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Idaho,
Indiana,
Massachusetts,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
New Jersey, New York,
Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and
Wisconsin.
The following is a summary of the laws of those States that have adopted the eight-hour work-limit:
Eight hours of labor constitute a day's work, unless it is otherwise expressly stipulated by the parties to a contract.
The time of service of all laborers, workmen, and mechanics employed upon any public works of, or done for, the
State, or for any political subdivision thereof, whether the work is to be done by contract or otherwise, is limited and restricted to eight hours in any one calendar day, and a stipulation that no workman, laborer, or mechanic in the employ of the contractor or sub-contractor shall be required or permitted to work more than eight hours in any one calendar day, except in cases of extraordinary emergency, shall be contained in every contract to which the
State or any political sub-division thereof is a party.
In the case of drivers, conductors, and gripmen of street-cars for the carriage of passengers, a day's work consists of twelve hours. Employment of minor children for more than eight hours per day is absolutely prohibited, except in vinicultural or horticultural pursuits, or in domestic or household occupations.
Eight hours constitute a day's work for all workmen employed by the
State, or any county, township, school district, municipality, or incorporated town.
Eight hours of labor constitute a lawful day's work unless otherwise agreed.
District of Columbia.
Eight hours constitute a day's work for all laborers or mechanics employed by or on behalf of the District of Columbia.
Eight hours actual work constitute a lawful day's work on all State,. county, and municipal works.
Eight hours are a legal day's work in all mechanical employments, except on farms, and when otherwise agreed; does not apply to service by the day, week, or month, or prevent contracts for longer hours.
Eight hours of labor constitute a legal day's work for all classes of mechanics, workingmen, and laborers, excepting those engaged in agricultural and domestic labor.
Overwork by agreement and for extra compensation is permitted.
The employment of persons under fourteen years of age for more than eight.
hours per day is absolutely prohibited.
Eight hours constitute a day's work for all laborers, mechanics, or other persons employed by or on behalf of the
State or any county, city, township, or other municipality.
Eight hours shall constitute a day's work for all laborers, workmen, and mechanics employed by or on behalf of any city or town in the
Commonwealth.
Eight hours constitute a legal day's work.
The law does not prevent an agreement to work for a longer or a shorter time and does not apply to laborers and farm-hands in the service of farmers or others engaged in agriculture.
Eight hours constitute a legal day's work for persons engaged to operate or handle any first-motion or direct-acting hoisting engine, or any geared or indirect-acting hoisting engine at any mine employing fifteen or more men underground when the duties of firemen are performed by the persons so engaged; also for any stationary engineer operating a stationary engine developing fifty or more horse-power when such engineer has charge or control of a boiler or boilers in addition to his other duties.
The law applies only to such steam plants as are in continuous operation or are operated twenty or more hours in each twenty-four hours, and does not apply to persons running any engine more than eight hours in each twenty-four for the purpose of
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relieving another employe in case of sickness or other unforeseen cause.
Eight hours constitute a legal day's work .for all classes of mechanics, servants, and laborers, except those engaged in farm or domestic labor.
Eight hours constitute a day's labor on any day whereon any general or municipal election shall be held.
New York.
Eight hours constitute a day's work for all classes of employes except in farm or domestic labor.
Overwork for extra pay is permitted, except upon work by or for the
State or a municipal corporation, or by contractors or subcontractors therewith.
The law applies to those employed by the
State or municipality, or by persons contracting for State work, and each contract to which the
State or a municipal corporation is a party shall contain a stipulation that no workman, laborer, or mechanic in the employ of the contractor, sub-contractor, etc., shall be permitted or required to work more than eight hours in any one calendar day, except in cases of extraordinary emergency.
Eight hours shall constitute a day's work in all engagements to labor in any mechanical, manufacturing, or mining business, unless otherwise expressly stipulated in the contract.
But in case of conductors, engineers, firemen, or trainmen of railroads, a day's work consists of ten hours.
Eight hours of labor shall be deemed and held to be a legal day's work in all cases of labor and service by the day where there is no agreement or contract to the contrary.
This does not apply to farm or agricultural labor by the year, month, or week, to labor in factories, laundries, and renovating establishments, or to labor on street railways.
Eight hours out of the twenty-four shall make and constitute a day's labor in penitentiaries and reformatory institutions receiving support from the
State: also for all mechanics, workmen, and laborers in the employ of the
State, or of any municipal corporation therein, or otherwise engaged on public works; this shall be deemed to apply to mechanics, workingmen, or laborers in the employ of persons contracting with the
State or any municipal corporation therein, for the performance of public work.
Eight hours shall be a day's work upon the highways, whether performed by convicts or free road hands.
Eight hours constitute a day's. work upon all public works and in all underground mines or workings, smelters, and all other institutions for the reduction or refining of ores.
Eight hours in any calendar day shall constitute a day's work, or any work done for the
State, county, or municipality.
In cases of extraordinary emergency, overtime may be worked for extra pay.
Eight hours shall constitute a day's work for all laborers, workmen, and mechanics who may be employed by or on behalf of the
State.
In all engagements to labor in any manufacturing or mechanical business, where there is no express contract to the contrary, a day's work shall consist of eight hours; but the law does not apply to contracts for labor by the week, month, or year.
In all manufactories, workshops, or other places used for mechanical or manufacturing purposes, the time of labor of children under the age of eighteen, and of women employed therein, shall not exceed eight hours in the day.
Eight hours actual work constitute a legal day's work in all mines and public works.
Eight hours shall constitute a day's work for all laborers, workmen, and mechanics who may be employed by or on behalf of the
United States.
