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| Map: States with union stripping measures |
Function
Labor unions enabled workers to band together to provide some leverage against management in the face of what were appalling working conditions after the Industrial Revolution.
History
Labor unions first began lobbying for an eight-hour workday in 1866 and ultimately achieved their goal after many decades of struggle when the Fair Labor Standards Act passed in 1938.
Minimum Wage
The Fair Labor Standards Act also created a minimum wage for workers. The initial minimum wage was set at only 25 cents per hour. As for 2009, the federal rate was $7.25 per hour.
Enactment
Labor unions were integral in pressing President Nixon to sign the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 1970. The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration now sets safety standards and conducts inspections in the workplace.
New Deal
The labor movement was a key supporter of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal program which included the creation of unemployment insurance and Social Security.
