The workplace rights American workers enjoy today didn’t appear out of nowhere. They’re the result of U.S. workers coming together to agitate for safer and more equitable workplace conditions. Workplace rights and policies continue to shift and change as the nation grows and we adapt to new ways of doing business.
Here are some of the movements that have shaped today’s workplace policies.
The Homestead Steel Strike of 1892
The Homestead Steel Strike occurred at Homestead Steel Mills in Pennsylvania. The Carnegie Steel Company had worked to lower costs to provoke the Amalgamated Association of Steel and Iron Workers to go on strike. The strikebreaking worked – the union collapsed. The impact of this strike was weakened union power, negative public perception of unions, a setback for collective bargaining, and resistance to unionization in the steel industry for decades to come. Steelworker unionization only saw a resurgence at the end of World War I.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911
When a fire broke out on the top floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in Manhattan, New York, firefighters were unable to reach trapped workers. Not only that, but the building owners had locked the fire escape doors, preventing workers from leaving. 146 of the company’s garment workers died. Following the tragedy, activists pushed for safer and fairer working conditions. Some 30 new laws were passed, including minimum wage regulation and improved safety requirements.
The Bread and Roses Strike of 1912
After the state of Massachusetts passed a law reducing the work week from 56 to 54 hours, factory owners responded by cutting wages and demanding workers work faster. Mill workers – many of them immigrants – walked off the job, liaising with workers’ unions and protesting to bring awareness to their situation. Congress eventually held hearings that forced the factory workers to the bargaining table, where the workers eventually accepted their offer. This moment represented a major win for labor, and also for women and immigrant workers.
The National Labor Relations Act, 1935
A landmark piece of labor legislation, the National Labor Relations Act guarantees workers’ right to unionize and petition for improved wages and working conditions. The act established the National Labor Relations Board, which today continues to empower workers and promote their rights.
The Fair Employment Practices Commission, 1941
This commission was created to help implement an executive order that banned employment discrimination based on race. Its impact was increased employment of Black workers, although systemic pay disparities remained.
The Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike of 1968
After two garbage truck workers in Memphis were crushed to death in a malfunctioning truck, 1,300 Black workers from the Memphis Department of Public Works went on strike. Dr. Martin Luther King arrived in Memphis in support of the union – which was not recognized by the city – speaking to a crowd of about 25,000 people. An extensive demonstration followed. Dr. King was assassinated in the following days, sparking mass protests and a crowd of some 42,000 people marching through the city in honor of Dr. King and demanding the city meet the union’s requests. The strike had a significant impact on public sector unionization, especially among Black workers, and drew national attention to the systemic disparities they faced.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
The labor movement was a key force in passing OSHA, which sets and forces health and safety standards for workers in the US at a federal level. During a time when occupational injuries and illnesses were increasing – and public outcry was growing – workers pushed for safe and healthful working conditions, eventually finding buy-in from politicians.
These are just some of the hundreds of labor events that have led to changes in working arrangements in our nation. Workers have banded together for improved conditions, to stop child labor, to provide health and retirement benefits, and to provide support to injured workers and their families. Even today, workers continue to petition for improvement in conditions, pay, and benefits.
At Warner PLLC we believe that it’s vital to understand the value of labor movements and how they have shaped how we live, work, and do business today. Labor and employment law has always been one of our core focus areas, and remains so. If you’re a worker or an employer and have questions about overtime, termination, strike activity, or a contract, talk to us about how we can guide you through your unique situation.
