The Late 19th and Early 20th Century to Build Solidarity Thesis

Introduction

From medieval times, the conflict between employers and workers has existed in the labor sector. During the 19^th and 20^th centuries, labor sectors witnessed a number of transformations. Owing to constant poor working conditions, extended working hours, poor remuneration, and exploitation by employers, workers devised strategies of advocating for their grievances (Yellen, 1974).

Among other strategies, workers formed trade unions and used them to present their grievance collectively to their employers. Historical conflicts between employers and workers have always centered on the struggle for power in the workplace.

According to Ashenfelter (1969), states workers perceived that by forming trade unions, they would have a high bargaining power that would enable them to advocate for their demands. Despite the presence of labor unions, workers occasionally employed riots and strikes as strategies of advocating for their grievances and enhancing their solidarity.

When trade unions and employers failed to reach an agreement on their demands, workers resorted to riots and strikes as effective strategies of advocating for their demands and grievances. Therefore, this thesis argues that labor unions, riots, and strikes were effective strategies that workers employed to enhance their solidarity at their workplace during the industrialization period.

Strategies of Solidarity

Labor Unions

Labor union was one of the effective strategies that workers used in enhancing their solidarity at their workplace. Labor union promoted solidarity and oneness among workers in various organizations and companies.

To enhance solidarity among workers, union leaders encouraged them to form unions so that they could undertake collective bargaining of their demands in aspects such as wages, salaries, working conditions, and contractual terms. According to Wolman (1975), what promoted the growth of trade unions in America was the determination of workers to improve their working conditions and prevent exploitation by employers.

In their determination, the founders of trade unions argued that solidarity of the workers was fundamental in enhancing their bargaining power in the labor sector. With enhanced bargaining power, workers were able to advocate for their demands and improve their solidarity. Therefore, labor unions proved to be effective in enhancing solidarity among workers in their workplace.

Despite the ability to increase the bargaining power of workers and enhance their solidarity, labor unions also experienced a number of shortcomings. Johnson (1969) argues that trade unions were capable of causing massive strikes and demonstrations, which eventually halted the industrial activities and operations. The strikes had a disruptive effect on the growth of industries and countries, as well as on their economies.

As labor unions catered for workers who were members of the union only, it resulted in discrimination of those workers who were not members to the unions. Many employers, therefore, hired workers who were not members of the unions and subjected them to atrocities and exploitations that related to work.

The discrimination hampered the power of workers’ unity and solidarity in their workplace, which was the core component of the labor union.

Riots

Workers also employed riots in the 19^th and 20^th centuries to enhance their solidarity at the workplace. Since riots were very destructive, employers had no alternative except to stop the riots by addressing workers demands and grievances urgently. David (1963) states that the results of the riots were beneficial to the workers as it encouraged them to come together and compelled the employers to address their demands and grievances.

However, it was detrimental to the organizations as they incurred losses from these riots. When employees felt that the organization, industry, or company was exploiting them they would organize riots to create a platform that they could use in presenting their grievances to their employers.

A good example is the Haymarket riot in 1886, which took place in the state of Chicago. As a result, riots were very instrumental in enhancing solidarity of workers in the workplace during the industrial period.

Despite their effectiveness, riots had a number of disadvantages such as widespread destruction of industrial infrastructure and loss of lives. For instance, the Haymarket riot, which took place in the state of Chicago, caused the deaths of seven police officers and four workers.

Riots also affected the growth and the economic development of those areas adjacent to the industries that experienced frequent riots of workers.

Riots affected economic activities because businesses and other operations within the vicinity took days or even months to resume normal operations (Foster, 1920). In spite of the destructive nature of riots, workers employ them when portraying their unity and advocating for their demands.

Strikes

Workers also used strikes as a strategy to enhance their solidarity. When workers felt that their employers were undermining or exploiting them without addressing their grievances and demands properly, they usually organized strikes. The Homestead strike in Pennsylvania is one of the notable strikes used by workers in presenting their views.

Strikes brought workers together since it would address their challenges, and thus enabled them achieve their unity and oneness. Lens (1973) argues that strikes were beneficial because they compelled employers to address grievances of workers appropriately. Strikes also helped to bring workers together and make them to achieve the much-needed solidarity.

Strikes were also instrumental in the creation of labor unions. In this perspective, strikes played a major role in the late 19^th century and the early 20^th century in enhancing workers’ solidarity at the workplace.

Although strikes played an important role in uniting workers and enhancing their solidarity, it had a number of shortcomings. In the late19^th century and early 20^th century, many economies of countries such as the United States and Britain were highly dependent on industries.

According to Olzak (1989), labor unrest and strikes halted worker operations in these industries until employers and workers came to an agreement regarding the demands of workers. The strikes greatly affected the industrial operations in these countries as well as their economies.

Additionally, the strikes also put some workers in a dilemma because they wanted to remain loyal to their employers or abide by the requirements of striking workers, and risk losing their jobs.

Another challenge posed by strikes is that small business enterprises sometimes had to close down, since strikes would incur them losses and completely cripple their operations. Despite these shortcomings, strikes were effective in enhancing workers’ solidarity at the workplace.

Conclusion

Workers’ solidarity was critical in that it created a platform that helped workers to present their grievances and demands to their employers. The solidarity of workers also enhanced strength and bargaining power of workers, thus enabling them to advocate for the improvement of working conditions and remuneration. The solidarity also ensured that workers accessed standard working hours and good working relationships.

It is of significant to note that strategies employed by workers in promoting their solidarity in the United States in the 19^th and 20^th centuries were effective and practical. Hence, a critical aspect is that these strategies reflect on the contemporary societies.

References

Ashenfelter, O., & Pencavel, H. (1969). American trade union growth: 1900-1960. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1(1), 434-448.

Coates, D. (2000). Models of capitalism: Growth and stagnation in the modern era. London: Cambridge University Press.

David, H. (1963). The History of the Haymarket Affair. New York: Collier Books.

Foster, W. Z. (1920). The great steel strike and its lessons. New York: BW Huebsch.

Grob, N., & Billias, A. (2010). Interpretations of American History: Since 1877. New York: Simon and Schuste.

Johnson, G. E., & Ashenfelter, O. (1969). Bargaining theory, trade unions, and industrial strike activity. The American Economic Review, 59(1), 35-49.

Lens, S. (1973). The labor wars: from the Molly Maguires to the sitdowns. London: Doubleday.

Olzak, S. (1989). Labor unrest, immigration, and ethnic conflict in urban America, 1880-1914. American Journal of Sociology, 94(6), 1303-1333.

Wolman, L. (1975). The Growth of American Trade Unions, 1880-1923. London: Arno Press.

Yellen, S. (1974). American labor struggles, 1877-1934. New York: Pathfinder Publishers.