Why was the American Federation of labor important?

Answer 1

The national trade union movement was important because it united workers to better working conditions for themselves. This includes wage negotiations, new work rules, and safety in workplace policies. The national trade union movement also had a political impact as well.

Answer 2

Labor unions protect the worker. They make sure the worker is paid for the skills he or she has, that it is equal pay for equal work, they have on the job safety, that they are given overtime if they work more than 8 hours, that they are given breaks and lunch/dinner break in the work day, that they are protected from abuses by the employer, that they are given health and other benefits, that the employer follows state and federal regulations, that they are protected from discrimination or retaliation for reporting abuse/breaking the law, that work conditions meet a standard for providing for heat/cooling/bathrooms/drinking fountains/lunchrooms/breakrooms. These things came about because many companies before unions ( some still do without union workers) abused the workers. One case in the 1920's was a shirt factory where the workers were chained shut into the building and a fire broke out. The workers couldn't get out of the building because the doors were locked. There have been cases where workers were not allowed to go to the bathroom by a supervisor and if they did they were fired.

Answer 3

samuel gompers

Answer 4

because it is