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Labor Movements: Home

*Adopted from the Tamiment Library (NYU) Guide to Labor History, by Kate Donovan

Workers of the World Unite

Overview

Labor Movements refer to the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign for better working conditions and treatment from their employers and governments, particularly implementation of labor unions.  Unions in the United States began forming in the mid-19th century in response to the social and economic impact of the industrial revolution. Today union activity centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions. Larger unions also typically engage in lobbying activities and electioneering at the state and federal level. This guide brings together governmental, statistical, archival and web resources on the subject.

The Right to Organize

Subject Guide