EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
How would the hiring information in the city affect the power of the unions?
There is not much available information on labor conditions in the city, but we do know about labor laws in the state of Connecticut. 1885-6 was the early high-point for Labor’s power; 37 members of the General Assembly were Knights of labor. They helped establish a Bureau of labor Statistics, factory inspection laws and others. Although the Knights of labor declined, the American Federation of Labor rose, and the Connecticut Federation of Labor started in 1887. Besides fostering local unions they also tried to influence public opinion positively. They helped lobby for the state legislature’s passage of the following:
1895-Establishment of State Board of Mediation and Arbitration
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1895-Blacklisting of employees forbidden
1901-Establishment of free public employment bureaus.
(For more information see Van Dusen,
Connecticut
, pp. 254-256.)
Questions:
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1. For what purpose would workers want the establishment of free public employment bureaus?
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2. If they hadn’t been “free” before, and “public,” then what might have been the problem
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3. In the article from New Britain what fear did the labor organizer indicate?
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4 What do you think was the city’s rationale for attaching an employment bureau to the Board of Charities? Read the Welfare article in this series for further understanding.
5 In the last paragraphs notice the pay and hours listed. What is your reaction? (Sorry about the cut-off, but that’s what can happen to primary source material!)
(figure available in printed form)