I believe the answer is:
a. better working conditions
d. eight-hour workdays
f. demand for higher wages
During the earlier period of labour unions, the government still hasn't create list of regulations that must be followed by companies to run their business fairly.
Because of this, companies tend to use every trick that they can think of in order to get as much profit as possible, including squeezing their own workers by forcing them to work higher hours on dangerous sites with very little pay.