The Rise of Labor Organizations and Workers' Rights

The Forging of Labor

Workers felt the need to create their own organizations, independent of bourgeois groups. Stable clusters began to form, formulating alternatives to capitalist society: cooperative versus competitive individualism versus collectivism. The first type of labor organization was the Friendly Societies, companies acting as resistance. They helped workers in cases of illness or unemployment and organized the first strikes by charging fees. These societies extended from 1820. Their actions led to the abolition of the Combination Acts and the consolidation of the right of association.

Soon, the need arose to coordinate all unions within a country. Several attempts were made, such as the creation of the National Association for the Protection of Labour, formed by associations from construction, textiles, metallurgy, and mining. This association also supported the company in favor of universal suffrage in 1832.

In 1834, the Grand Trade Union was formed, bringing together most unions. It prompted industrial action and encouraged the creation of production cooperatives. The reaction of the government, employers, and the failure of cooperatives led to the GTU's end.

In France, the Workers' Union was created, and in Spain, the Association of Workers of Barcelona.

Labor Progress

The growth of capitalism led to a dramatic rise in the industrial proletariat. The spread of socialism favored the formation of new unionism. To increase their pressure, the practice of collective bargaining between unions and employers was imposed to set wages and conditions. As a result, the first labor laws emerged:

• Child and Women Labor: In 1819, the British government demanded a minimum age of nine for child labor. In France, this was set at eight years in 1841 and twelve in 1892. Night work for women was prohibited, and mandatory rest after delivery was established.
• Required Insurance: Germany was the pioneer state in creating compulsory insurance for workers. France and England established similar laws. In 1908, an English law guaranteed compensation to the unemployed.
• Working Time: In much of the industrialized countries, a ten-hour day was established in workshops and eight in the mines. The eight-hour day was not achieved until after World War I.