What Is a Labor Union?

To understand labor unions today, one has to understand the history behind them. During the early period of industrialization, misery existed among workers. Entire families labored in mines and factories. Organizations paid the barest subsistence wages, claiming that workers were lazy and would stop working if they were paid better. Workdays were long, often 14 hours or more, holidays were few and far between and working conditions were poor. The early days of unions were met with bitter struggles with employers and the government supported the employers' interests. During this period of rapid technological evolutions, the union was outlawed and organizers were harassed and or jailed. Due to union organizers, the unions finally gained a foothold and were eventually recognized and accepted in the work force.…