National Labor Union Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is National Labor Union?

The National Labor Union (NLU) was a labor organization established in 1866 in the United States, mainly as a response to the poor working conditions and low wages of the industrial revolution. It was a multi-racial organization which sought to represent both skilled and unskilled laborers. It organized strikes, lobbied for improved labor laws, and even ran candidates for political office. Although it eventually dissolved in 1873 due to internal divisions, its legacy remains important today as it is seen by many historians as an important precursor to modern labor unions. The NLU was founded by William Sylvis, who believed that workers had a right to fair wages and safe working conditions; he argued that if these rights were not respected then workers should use more radical means of protest such as strikes or boycotts. The NLU’s first major achievement came in 1868 when they secured an 8-hour workday for some federal employees. Following this success, they began organizing strikes across the country with some success but their major accomplishment came in 1870 when they successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Eight Hour Law which limited hours worked by federal employees at eight hours per day.The NLU also fought for other worker rights such as a minimum wage and workplace safety regulations; however their influence waned during the early 1870s due to internal divisions over how far reform should go and whether or not employers should be allowed back into negotiations after being locked out from NLU membership earlier on. These disputes ultimately caused its dissolution in 1873 making way for other labor organizations such as the Knights of Labor which would become much more powerful during this period of history. While there are many differences between today’s labor unions and those of history like the National Labor Union, one thing remains constant: both strive towards better working conditions for all individuals regardless of race or gender through equal representation with employers, collective bargaining rights, higher wages, health benefits etc – something that has been made possible due largely thanks to organizations like NLU who paved the way before them.