As corporations grew during the Gilded age, more people depended on wages. The inflow of immigration allowed manufacturers to hire cheap labor, but also not care how workers were treated. Labor Unions emerged to protect the rights of workers, even though many were looked down upon from big corporations. The rising cost of living pushed people into unionizing and by 1872 there were 32 national Unions. |
Problems Organized Labor FacedWorkers that depended on their wage were financially unstable because the economy could change their income at any time. The thought of being fired also caused laborers to worry for the reason that at any time they could be replaced and would have no support at all. Workers also could not speak out against companies since the companies could always bribe people to turn against them, thus having much more power than an average worker. In addition, work conditions were hard and long which in affect caused Labor Unions to fight for an 8 hour work day. Labor Unions during the Gilded Age took the first step towards creating better working conditions and wages, although they were not very successful at first.
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