Question

What was a major goal of early labor unions?

Answer 1

Early labor unions aimed to improve wages, establish an eight-hour workday, and enhance overall working conditions through collective bargaining and strikes.

Step-by-step explanation:

A major goal of early labor unions was to advocate for improved working conditions for laborers. This encompassed several core objectives such as better wages, the establishment of a standard eight-hour workday, enhanced safety protocols in the workplace, the elimination of child labor, and the securing of health benefits for workers. Labor unions like the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the National Labor Union (NLU) emerged to negotiate collectively on behalf of workers, often engaging in strikes to further their demands. These organizations sought not only to improve the immediate welfare of workers but also to reform the labor system more fundamentally over time.

Answer 2

For those in the industrial sector, organized labor unions fought for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The labor movement led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.