The History of Labor Unions
The history of labor unions is important to research so unions can continue to evolve with the times. As with any topic, the more history is acknowledged, the better the future will be. Unions have come a long way over the last century. Without studying the past, you cannot build a solid future. History plays an important role in the development of both public and private labor unions. For example, it is important to know that in the late 18th century, workers in the U.S. started to collectively bargain for their rights while modern-day union workers are still bargaining for the same rights. Workers have been bargaining for centuries. Yet as time goes by, demands rarely evolve. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, union workers were still fighting for their pay just as they were a century before. Also, in the 1900s, unions fought for standardized work weeks and a regulated child labor law, including a 40-hour workweek. These examples are still upheld, not only by unions, but by non-union organizations today.
The preceding interactive gave a few important historical dates within the U.S. but remember that unions are not exclusive to the U.S. alone. For instance, the U.S. has used European unions as examples for centuries, although the first union in England was not officially recognized until 1867 (Pulliam, 2019). Figure 3 below includes a comparison of U.S. trade union membership with several international neighbors.
This week, you will focus on a variety of history within the realm of labor unions. Some of the elements that you will see are dates, significant events, and watershed moments. You will study in-depth how unions came to be, how they have evolved, and where they are today. You will also study the important moments in history that have shaped the unions and how they operate today.
This week’s assignment requires you to prepare an infographic. You may use PowerPoint or other software you are familiar with.
Assignment Instructions
It is important for you to understand the history of labor unions. Not only must you have a working knowledge of the history, but you must also recognize how that history has shaped the labor unions today.
For this assignment, you will put yourself in the role of an HR professional within a unionized organization with the task of analyzing the history of labor unions. Prepare an infographic that includes the definition of labor unions, significant events, and how you may use history to shape the future. Be sure to illustrate the relationship between labor laws and labor unions.
Length: One infographic outlining and illustrating the history of union labor laws.
References: Include a minimum of 5 scholarly references.
The completed assignment should address all of the assignment requirements, exhibit evidence of concept knowledge, and demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the content presented in the course. The writing should integrate scholarly resources, reflect academic expectations and current APA standards.