1. The fight for a better life.
The Labor Movement
The fight for a better life.

2. 19th Century Labor Conditions
People usually worked six days a week, for ten to fourteen hours a day
Many jobs were unsafe
Children often worked, too

3. Labor Unrest
Workers organized strikes against poor working conditions and low pay.
A strike is when workers leave their jobs as a protest.
In some cases workers formed unions, an organization of workers, to improve their pay and working conditions

4. American Federation of Labor
The AF of L was a craft union that organized skilled workers
They worked to improve wages and working conditions through bargaining with employers.
Their leader was Samuel Gompers

5. The CIO
During the 1930’s the industrial workers organized unions in steel and auto.
Their unions formed the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which merged with the AFL in the 1950’s.

6. Labor Laws
After worker protests the government established labor laws including:
8 hour day
Limited child labor
Improved safety
Allowed workers to organize unions

7. Minimum Wage In 1938, the Congress established a minimum wage
At that time it was 25 cents an hour, today the federal minimum wage is $7.25.
California raised it to $10 per hour.
In California, this produces an annual gross salary of about $20,000 per year.
Poverty guidelines for USA = $23,000 for family of four.

9. Fight for Living Wage
Since 2012 people in the labor movement have called for a living wage.
This has been expressed as the “Fight for $15” per hour.
This would translate into an annual wage of about $30,000.