Portal:Organized Labour

Introduction

File:Walter-crane-1889-solidiarty-of-labour.jpg

Image created by Walter Crane to celebrate International Workers' Day (May Day, 1 May), 1889. The image depicts workers from the five populated continents (Africa, Asia, Americas, Australia and Europe) in unity underneath an angel representing freedom, fraternity and equality.

The labour movement is the collective organisation of working people to further their shared political and economic interests. It consists of the trade union or labour union movement, as well as political parties of labour. It can be considered an instance of class conflict.

In trade unions, workers campaign for higher wages, better working conditions and fair treatment from their employers, and through the implementation of labour laws, from their governments. They do this through collective bargaining, sectoral bargaining, and when needed, strike action. In some countries, co-determination gives representatives of workers seats on the board of directors of their employers.
Political parties representing the interests of workers campaign for labour rights, social security and the welfare state. They are usually called a labour party (in English-speaking countries), a social democratic party (in Germanic and Slavic countries), a socialist party (in Romance countries), or sometimes a workers' party.
Though historically less prominent, the cooperative movement campaigns to replace capitalist ownership of the economy with worker cooperatives, consumer cooperatives, and other types of cooperative ownership. This is related to the concept of economic democracy.

The labour movement developed as a response to capitalism and the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, at about the same time as socialism. The early goals of the movement were the right to unionise, the right to vote, democracy and the 40-hour week. As these were achieved in many of the advanced economies of western Europe and north America in the early decades of the 20th century, the labour movement expanded to issues of welfare and social insurance, wealth distribution and income distribution, public services like health care and education, social housing and common ownership. (Full article...)

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article

Industrial unionism is a trade union organising method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union, regardless of skill or trade, thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in bargaining and in strike situations. De Leon believed that militarized Industrial unions would be the vehicle of class struggle. Industrial unionism contrasts with craft unionism, which organizes workers along lines of their specific trades. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

January in Labor History

Template:/January history

More Did you know (auto-generated)

Lua error in Module:Selected_recent_additions at line 62: bad argument #1 to 'gmatch' (string expected, got nil).

Related Portals

Selected image

Image 1Breaker boys, child laborers, working in a U.S. coal mine in 1911.

Image 1Breaker boys, child laborers, working in a U.S. coal mine in 1911.
Image 2Barges set ablaze by steelworkers during the Homestead strike in 1892.

Image 2Barges set ablaze by steelworkers during the Homestead strike in 1892.
Image 3Political cartoon about the Coal Strike of 1902 from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Image 3Political cartoon about the Coal Strike of 1902 from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Image 4Illustration from the Brisbane Worker newspaper condemning the brutality of the Queensland Police on Black Friday during the 1912 Brisbane General Strike.

Image 4Illustration from the Brisbane Worker newspaper condemning the brutality of the Queensland Police on Black Friday during the 1912 Brisbane General Strike.
Image 5George Meany, former leader of the AFL–CIO.

Image 5George Meany, former leader of the AFL–CIO.
Image 6Australian industrial relations legislation national day of protest, 2005.

Image 6Australian industrial relations legislation national day of protest, 2005.
Image 7Richard Trumka.

Image 7Richard Trumka.
Image 8Armed vigilantes deport striking copper miners during the Bisbee Deportation in Bisbee, Arizona, July 12, 1917.

Image 8Armed vigilantes deport striking copper miners during the Bisbee Deportation in Bisbee, Arizona, July 12, 1917.
Image 9Exaggerated 19th century engraving showing flames and smoke following the Haymarket riot.

Image 9Exaggerated 19th century engraving showing flames and smoke following the Haymarket riot.
Image 10Striking teamsters armed with pipes battle police in the streets during the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934.

Image 10Striking teamsters armed with pipes battle police in the streets during the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934.
Image 11Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

Image 11Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
Image 12John L. Lewis (right, President of the United Mine Workers, confers with Thomas Kennedy (left), UMW Secretary-Treasurer of the UMW, and a UMW official at the War Labor Board in 1943 about a coal miners' strike.

Image 12John L. Lewis (right, President of the United Mine Workers, confers with Thomas Kennedy (left), UMW Secretary-Treasurer of the UMW, and a UMW official at the War Labor Board in 1943 about a coal miners' strike.
Image 13Joe Hill.

Image 13Joe Hill.
Image 14Detail of monument to the Reesor Siding Strike of 1963.

Image 14Detail of monument to the Reesor Siding Strike of 1963.
Image 15A. Philip Randolph.

Image 15A. Philip Randolph.
Image 16Registered nurses on strike in 2006 outside Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Image 16Registered nurses on strike in 2006 outside Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Image 17Striking I.W.W. members confront Massachusetts National Guard troops in Boston, during the Lawrence textile strike in 1912.

Image 17Striking I.W.W. members confront Massachusetts National Guard troops in Boston, during the Lawrence textile strike in 1912.
Image 18Picket signs at the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike.

Image 18Picket signs at the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike.
Image 19Members of the United Steelworkers in Ohio phone bank other union members to educate them about critical issues in the 2008 election in the U.S.

Image 19Members of the United Steelworkers in Ohio phone bank other union members to educate them about critical issues in the 2008 election in the U.S.
Image 20May Day Rally in Mumbai, India, 2004.

Image 20May Day Rally in Mumbai, India, 2004.
Image 21J. Warren Madden, the first Chair of the National Labor Relations Board.

Image 21J. Warren Madden, the first Chair of the National Labor Relations Board.
Image 22Samuel Gompers.

Image 22Samuel Gompers.
Image 23Striking workers march moments before the Swedish military opened fire, killing five workers during the Ådalen shootings.

Image 23Striking workers march moments before the Swedish military opened fire, killing five workers during the Ådalen shootings.
Image 24Rally in Dhaka, organized by Jatiyo Nari Shramik Trade Union Kendra (National Women Workers Trade Union Centre), an organization affiliated with the Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra.

Image 24Rally in Dhaka, organized by Jatiyo Nari Shramik Trade Union Kendra (National Women Workers Trade Union Centre), an organization affiliated with the Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra.
Image 25Knights of Labor Grand Master Workman Terence V. Powderly.

Image 25Knights of Labor Grand Master Workman Terence V. Powderly.
Image 26Lewis Hine's 1920 image "Power house mechanic working on steam pump," which shows a working class young American man with wrench in hand, hunched over, surrounded by the machinery that defines his work.

Image 26Lewis Hine's 1920 image "Power house mechanic working on steam pump," which shows a working class young American man with wrench in hand, hunched over, surrounded by the machinery that defines his work.
Image 27Shields used by striking workers at the Carnegie Steel Works during the Homestead Strike in 1892.

Image 27Shields used by striking workers at the Carnegie Steel Works during the Homestead Strike in 1892.
Image 28Big Bill Haywood, a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Image 28Big Bill Haywood, a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World.
Image 29Camp put up by striking Pepsi-Cola workers, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, 2008.

Image 29Camp put up by striking Pepsi-Cola workers, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, 2008.
Image 30During World War II, a female aircraft worker checks electrical assemblies at the Vega Aircraft Corporation in Burbank, California.

Image 30During World War II, a female aircraft worker checks electrical assemblies at the Vega Aircraft Corporation in Burbank, California.
Image 31Protesters barricade the street on June 22 during the 2006 Oaxaca protests.

Image 31Protesters barricade the street on June 22 during the 2006 Oaxaca protests.
Image 32Empty Gare du Nord train station during the November 2007 strikes in France.

Image 32Empty Gare du Nord train station during the November 2007 strikes in France.
Image 33Cripple Creek, Colo., under martial law, during the 1894 strike.

Image 33Cripple Creek, Colo., under martial law, during the 1894 strike.
Image 34Union elections with an illegal firing, 1951 to 2007.

Image 34Union elections with an illegal firing, 1951 to 2007.
Image 35Memorial marker for the Bay View Tragedy.

Image 35Memorial marker for the Bay View Tragedy.
Image 36AFL–CIO unions protest outside Verizon headquarters in Philadelphia using a giant inflatable rat.

Image 36AFL–CIO unions protest outside Verizon headquarters in Philadelphia using a giant inflatable rat.
Image 37Mounted police chase demonstrators through Vancouver's East End during the Battle of Ballantyne Pier in 1935.

Image 37Mounted police chase demonstrators through Vancouver's East End during the Battle of Ballantyne Pier in 1935.
Image 38Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, and his wife, circa 1908.

Image 38Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, and his wife, circa 1908.
Image 39Public and Commercial Services Union members on strike in Manchester 2006.

Image 39Public and Commercial Services Union members on strike in Manchester 2006.
Image 40Former headquarters of the United Mine Workers of America and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 900 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C., in 200.

Image 40Former headquarters of the United Mine Workers of America and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 900 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C., in 200.
Image 41Wilma B. Liebman, chair, NLRB.

Image 41Wilma B. Liebman, chair, NLRB.
Image 42American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Albert Shanker.

Image 42American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Albert Shanker.
Image 43United Mine Workers of America poster circa 1902.

Image 43United Mine Workers of America poster circa 1902.
Image 44The Ludlow massacre monument located in Ludlow, Colorado, United States.

Image 44The Ludlow massacre monument located in Ludlow, Colorado, United States.
Image 45National Federation of Federal Employees officials sign a collective bargaining agreement with the U.S. 8th Army in October 2002.

Image 45National Federation of Federal Employees officials sign a collective bargaining agreement with the U.S. 8th Army in October 2002.
Image 46Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) notice of subway closure during the 2005 New York City transit strike.

Image 46Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) notice of subway closure during the 2005 New York City transit strike.
Image 47Union members march in Argentina on Human Rights Day in December 2005. The signs read "Worker rights are human rights..

Image 47Union members march in Argentina on Human Rights Day in December 2005. The signs read "Worker rights are human rights..
Image 48An AFL–CIO protest of Rite Aid, with Rev. Mark Reisinger (Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania), Bill George, and Richard Bloomingdale.

Image 48An AFL–CIO protest of Rite Aid, with Rev. Mark Reisinger (Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania), Bill George, and Richard Bloomingdale.
Image 49Strike sign used by the German Train Drivers' Union in the German national rail strike of 2007.

Image 49Strike sign used by the German Train Drivers' Union in the German national rail strike of 2007.
Image 50William Green, president of the AFL–CIO from 1924 to 1952.

Image 50William Green, president of the AFL–CIO from 1924 to 1952.
Image 51Crowd gathered outside old City Hall during the Winnipeg general strike, June 21, 1919.

Image 51Crowd gathered outside old City Hall during the Winnipeg general strike, June 21, 1919.
Image 52The front page of the Union Record on the Seattle General Strike of 1919.

Image 52The front page of the Union Record on the Seattle General Strike of 1919.
Image 53Mary Harris "Mother" Jones.

Image 53Mary Harris "Mother" Jones.
Image 54Strike leaders at the Paterson silk strike of 1913. From left, Patrick Quinlan, Carlo Tresca, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Adolph Lessig, and Bill Haywood.

Image 54Strike leaders at the Paterson silk strike of 1913. From left, Patrick Quinlan, Carlo Tresca, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Adolph Lessig, and Bill Haywood.
Image 55The Western Federation of Miners' famous flyer entitled "Is Colorado in America?".

Image 55The Western Federation of Miners' famous flyer entitled "Is Colorado in America?".
Image 56The Place de la Sorbonne in Paris is closed by police during the 2006 labour protests in France.

Image 56The Place de la Sorbonne in Paris is closed by police during the 2006 labour protests in France.
Image 57Striking American Railway Union members confront Illinois National Guard troops in Chicago, Illinois, during the Pullman Strike in 1894.

Image 57Striking American Railway Union members confront Illinois National Guard troops in Chicago, Illinois, during the Pullman Strike in 1894.
Image 58Union members picketing recent NLRB rulings outside the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters in November 2007.

Image 58Union members picketing recent NLRB rulings outside the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters in November 2007.

Selected Quote

File:Left pointing double angle quotation mark sh3.svg

The workers have nothing to lose in this but their chains. They have the world to gain. Workers of the world unite!"

File:Right pointing double angle quotation mark sh3.svg

— Karl Marx.

Did you know

Template:/box-footer

Topics

Get involved

For editor resources and to collaborate with other editors on improving Wikipedia's Organized Labour-related articles, see Organized Labour WikiProject.

Alt text

Also see our sister WikiProject, Housing and Tenant Rights!

Alt text

Associated Wikimedia

The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:

File:Commons-logo.svg

Commons
Free media repository
File:Wikibooks-logo.svg

Wikibooks
Free textbooks and manuals
File:Wikidata-logo.svg

Wikidata
Free knowledge base
File:Wikinews-logo.svg

Wikinews
Free-content news
File:Wikiquote-logo.svg

Wikiquote
Collection of quotations
File:Wikisource-logo.svg

Wikisource
Free-content library
File:Wikiversity logo 2017.svg

Wikiversity
Free learning tools
File:Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg

Wiktionary
Dictionary and thesaurus

Discover Wikipedia using portals

Purge server cache

User:Mentifisto/Title

Portal:Organized Labour

Introduction

Selected article

January in Labor History

More Did you know (auto-generated)

Related Portals

Selected image

Selected Quote

Did you know

Topics

Get involved

Associated Wikimedia

Navigation menu

Page actions

Page actions

Personal tools

Navigation

Search

Tools

In other projects

In other languages