Gompers-Lewis
"The term labor movement is often applied to anyorganization or association of wage earners who join together toadvance their common interests. It more broadly applies,however, to any association of workers by geographical area,trade or industry, or any other factor. While labor unions havebeen the almost exclusive center of the modern labor movement inthe United States, in Western Europe, and in many othercountries, the term labor movement has come to embracelabor-oriented political parties as well as labor unions,usually combined in a loose alliance." (Flagger, 2) Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the upsand downs of the business cycle have influenced labor movementsin the United States. The expansion of economic activity --bringing with it growth in the demand for labor -- createsconditions favorable to union organization and to demands ofwage earners for improved living standards. Correspondingly,significant economic decline weakens the position of workers andlabor unions and often leads to a greater emphasis on government Generally, American unions had their greatest successesamong blue-collar, or manual, workers, especially in the gr
It is for these reasons and more that the name Gomperswill never be left out of any American History book written inthe future. " (Flager, 18) They came to be characterized by job consciousness as opposed toclass consciousness. He was rushed to ahospital in San Antonio, Texas where he died on December 13,1924. Lewis, another great influence on American history,worked as a coal miner and rose through the union ranks tobecome president of the United Mine Workers (UMW) of America in1920. Both unions were also created around a certaintime period, founded in the same fifty year time frame, andcontinued to co-exist for years following. Unions have not been as successful in organizingworkers in the services, large numbers of whom are women,including many part-time employees. With such a difficult beginninghimself, this may have sparked Gompers' strive to create a moredescent working environment and better pay for all in thefuture. " (Quaglieri, 45) By 1885, Gompers had become highly skilled at his trade andwas employed in one of the larger shops. Life was far from easy in the crowded slums of New York whereGompers spent the rest of his childhood. " (internet*)However, four years later, the AFL represented 250,000 workers. He was an important figure in theAFL as well, along with Gompers, until he founded the Congressof Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1935, which he headed aspresident until 1940. He was elected president, aposition which he held, except for one year, until his death 38years later. The AFL unionsalso insisted that members pay relatively high dues, and many ofthem established insurance and strike benefits. This time with Gompers as the President.
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Acceptance Essays
