The History of Labor Unions

The history of labor unions

[@rickpearson7943]

Instead of going shopping for holiday sales on Labor Day, every working class person-union or not- should take that day to learn about the history of the U.S. labor movement. Much blood was shed for workers to have things they now take for granted, like the 8 hour work day...workers were killed for this!!! The schools aren't going to teach these details because they know it might turn you into the labor radicals that those people were. Now I'm not saying you should learn this stuff so you'll become radical. I'm saying you should learn this stuff to have class consciousness and not take life for granted. In honor of workers that came before us, we should all take that day to learn about what they fought for so we could have that day off work. Also, JOIN A LABOR UNION!!!

[@DrAlexCullison]

Thank you for your inspiring comment. We couldn't agree with you more!

[@autismhelpinformationchann8351]

Thank you. This was a collaborative effort put together is the 1970s. It was on 35MM film. The challenge was to transfer the movie to more contemporary formats. A while back while hiking in West Virginia, I came across a deserted cemetery in the woods. It was a grave yard for coal miners and their families. It took me a while to discover they all had dies with a week of one another, having been killed by company guards during a strike for health and safety conditions. Mothers, children, miners, and everyone else near the picket line. Tragic. Few people know the sacrifices others have made for workers rights.

[@lizsmith1716]

Where in West Virginia? On the border just across in Kentucky there was a famous battle between union miners and their opposition in Harlan County.

[@ugrasimhadas4533]

@@lizsmith1716 Blair mountain?

[@lizsmith1716]

@@ugrasimhadas4533 Battle of Blair Mountain! That occurred in Logan County. Very important history

[@JohnnyGutierrez-um6nt]

😮

[@kevinwhite1772]

Amen

[@nopartyaffiliation7434]

My grandfather started out on the railroad making 6 dollars a day. The Union's helped him get a good wage,insurance and a great quality of life. I don't understand all the hostility to union's in the media.

[@nicolebrown230]

The unions were great and respected back in the day. However, many became corrupt. That is why a lot of people dislike and distrust unions.

[@chriscurry2496]

The hostility is due to a massive propaganda effort by business to convince the American public that unions were "anti-American". There's some great documentation on this in a book called "Selling Free Enterprise."

[@HuevoDuro702]

NIcole Brown The CIA destroyed unions by calling them communism!!

[@TheTriptamineDream]

Many became corrupt, and many were cleaned up by activists too. There are few corrupt unions these days, it's more about unions that are good at fighting and ones that aren't. I am sure there are still some corrupt unions and officials, but same for bosses - but they are more the exception. As opposed to bosses, who corrupt or not will almost always try to fuck you over.

[@mrgiles1]

Look to the owners of the media for your answer

[@nickswagg5624]

My grandfather was a union pipefitter in Wheeling WV during the time that local was first formed and was dedicated to the union. My uncle and my father are both in IBEW local 728 and I’m currently in sheet metal workers local 104. Stay union and we stay strong!

[@ur_mother_123]

that's sick, bro. nice job!

[@spacey_kat]

Could it be because the media is owned by the greedy corporations that don't wish to pay people a living wage?

[@evansells1148]

Solidarity Forever

[@whyshehereike9904]

I'm Joining local 537 for pipe fitters. Is there any public info on your grandfather? I'm doing a labor union project. WE just visited local 104 last week

[@michaelgmoore5708]

Grocery store employee, started low wage, after 10 years union wages never went up for me.

[@community1949]

We all have the early labor movement to thank for 40 hour work week, time off, benefits and safety protection - all of us, blue collar, white collar, professional. And the greedy, low paying corporations made the welfare situation possible. They created it by not paying employees enough to live. The sign at 11:06 says it all: Give us a living wage, not charity.

[@DoorknobHead]

That very sign had a huge impact on me.

[@phade2blaq]

Yes we do and the GOP controlled states are trying to erode that and they have had successes doing it.

[@shibuya3185]

You have the labour movement to thank for industries closing down all over the north of England and Scotland due to never ending wage demands, blackmailing of employers by threatening to destroy their businesses through strikes and go slows etc.

[@cheshire_skatkat9093]

Should had fought for 20 he work weeks. 3 days off and mandatory paid 30 min lunch within the 5 hr work day.

[@shibuya3185]

@@cheshire_skatkat9093 : You sound like the typical greedy Union worker always wanting more benefits for less work.

[@hermenutic]

I sat spellbound through the entire movie. My father was a textile worker in the 1920's and to think this is what he had to go through and what his experience must have been just steamrolled me tonight 100 years later.

[@moshow93]

Don't get depressed upon hearing bad news. get angry!

[@Polarcupcheck]

Good point. I feel like all the tolerance they push is really to train us to be tolerant to low wages and long hours. Essentially slaves.

[@shibuya3185]

@@Polarcupcheck : Lol! To compare real slavery to greedy union members never ending pay demands is simply ridiculous but typical of greedy, never satisfied workers

[@Polarcupcheck]

@@shibuya3185 Sorry. No person who has to work for their money believes a thing you say. If they are never satisfied, then why are there rarely strikes, and mostly agreements made on contracts? Also, who were the perpetuators of slavery? Was it a labor union, or politicians, property owners and businessmen? I think I everyone knows the answer, but maybe you don't. Have you worked, or is that an idea you hear thrown around?

[@shibuya3185]

@@Polarcupcheck : "No person who has to work for their money believes a thing you say"...Er, you don't speak for everybody, sunshine, so don't pretend that you do.

[@shibuya3185]

@@Polarcupcheck : "If they are never satisfied, then why are there rarely strikes, and mostly agreements made on contracts?"....If you actually take the time to read my posts you will see that I am referring only to Union members, not all employed persons. Most employed persons are not members of a Union. Union membership has declined purely because workers have realised that they only destroy jobs whilst they create nothing at all.

[@loririlling2538]

Here just for a school assignment. This documentary left me with sadness and sorrow for watching child labor pitiable working conditions and paying them less money than older workers. A sad chapter in the American labor story.

[@angelajones7849]

History lesson we all need!

[@luisrosario8709]

The union was a blessing from God for me and my family

[@gnnascarfan2410]

The fact this video only has 158,037 viewers is pretty sad to me.

[@mx2892]

Fantastic documentary, thanks for the upload! It is touching, truly, to know that these people fought and died for things that we as workers take for granted today, yet sadly the labor movement is quickly being forgotten in the United States. Great video.

[@hulaqde]

Union Rep from Local 711- GO UNION!

[@james0805]

but do they teach this history in public schools...NO!! This is really good. Thank you for whoever did this

[@DrAlexCullison]

You are welcome.

[@senorchill503]

Not sure right now, but they did when I was a kid.

[@thecosmiccastaway8960]

A few years ago I became a OTR truck driver. In light of recent events. I strongly believe that truck drivers need to unionize. I'd like to say that after watching this i will begin learning more about unions, and push for an trucking union.

[@jarrettabbott764]

Teamsters Union brother! The drivers are called the "freight division". Call them up!

[@facesofbernie7360]

Thank you for posting this documentary! I will share far and wide as we need a reminder what those before us have risked their lives to accomplish and why we owe it to future generations to protect those accomplishments.

[@DrAlexCullison]

+Faces of Bernie You are most welcome! More to come!

[@TheMrBeezley]

@@DrAlexCullison I am currently working on a documentary about a local union lockout. One portion is on the history of unions. I’d like to inquire about possibly using portions of the footage from this video, if you’re the copyright holder. If not, I’d love to put in touch with whoever I should talk to. Thanks!

[@jacktodd338]

Interesting, the recording of the children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is from before "under God" was added in 1954.

[@sonyatheforestgaurdian3152]

One of my great grandfathers on my dad's side was a regional head in the FOTLU and AFL after the rebranding. Beyond him, come 2030 when I'm done with school, I'm going to be the only other person in the family to join a union.

[@Toledo1940]

My father was born in December of 1899. By the time he was 6 years old, he had two jobs: he sold newspapers on a street corner and turned the gas-lights that illuminated the streets in town (Dayton, Ohio) on in the evening and off in the morning. At the age of six.

[@MrCtsSteve]

Union proud here .

[@JOHNSTIER23]

Steve Harrod damn right fight for your right to be union and free from the ass holes

[@JOHNSTIER23]

Why hire a man for a dollar when a kid will work for a dime fight for the union

[@broadwayboy6024]

What’s sad is that all of the progress made by the labor movement is being eroded by worker misclassification

[@mantonio121773]

copuldn't find this stuff a few years ago. Thanks for the video. Keep em coming!

[@DrAlexCullison]

+mantonio121773 You are most welcome! More to come!

[@cks4124]

IM A UNION LABOR .THANK GOD FOR ALL UNIONS. GOD BLESS.

[@ssurfcity]

UAW Local 659 Joint Council member here

[@CoffeemugMac]

The history of labor law should be a subject all Americans are familiar with. From the slave to the immigrant to the businessman; there is much understanding to be had.

[@spiritofhopeloveandkindnes2308]

I support labor unions fully.

[@cynthiafoster6381]

These were my grandparents. Literally.

[@zachreed9836]

It's amazing to see what America was versus what it became 10 cents A-day This gives me a whole new perspective Thank you God for giving us far more than we deserve.

[@bennyturbo1409]

Thank you for posting this historical video

[@DrAlexCullison]

+Benny Turbo You are most welcome! More to come!

[@hanashazwinazizan6539]

I'm really impressed with this exhaustive collection of clips and audio, and I appreciate that current events were interspersed with worker experiences and grievances. Did you put this together yourself or is this from a different source?

[@yalil5565]

Solidarity!!

[@DrAlexCullison]

glad you liked it!

[@trukviet]

For further info, see Rebel Voices, an Anthology of the Labor Movement, and for more songs, listen to Utah Phillips. Workers of the World...Unite!

[@otinane89]

Thanks a lot for the upload!

[@DrAlexCullison]

Thank you for sharing, Sonya. Your union will benefit from your membership and participation. Have a great weekend!

[@crashmc9]

Really amazing video. Great work. I'd love to find a list of the music used.

[@milicent987]

sounds like Joan Baez

[@TexRenner]

IBEW Local 716 for 32 years. I got a good pension and insurance, a good retirement.

[@aishikgupta]

Music those days was awesome

[@m2rkiller]

This needs more hype. Me being in this ow, in this day and age, the struggle and the fight is the same. I don't know why people don't see this, but we need to fight for this!!

[@jacobdavis163]

Thanks for posting! Union strong!

[@robertafierro5592]

The power of Black and White photography!

[@jaimesandoval1988]

Union changed my life! ✊

[@sirCULTURE]

Basically a slide show with music and a little narration. Enjoyable slide show.

[@Lobos222]

The voice actors are really good.

[@kevinwhite1772]

Ny mom was a union person as was my father. They both lived well and are happy in their older lives.

[@DrAlexCullison]

Thank you for your comment!

[@dengelke]

Great upload. Thanks for sharing.

[@DrAlexCullison]

+Dan Engelke You are most welcome!

[@user-bo8eq7ki5w]

Hallou . Am reed "The grapes of wrath" by D. Stainbek.

[@kmjpcm63]

ORGANIZE !! ORGANIIZE !! - - the company will NOT give you the time of day. Through numbers there is strength., then your voice will be loud and clear !! LIVE BETTER, WORK UNION !! ----OUT OF MANY, ONE ----

[@unclephil440]

A great video. Thanks for sharing

[@DrAlexCullison]

Glad you liked it!

[@MARKETMAN6789]

Great video

[@duncanbleak3819]

I needed this!

[@DrAlexCullison]

It is a shame the this part of history is not taught in school.

[@benwebb7698]

Anyone know the name of the song "You've got to work for it, fight for it, day and night for it, and every generations got to win it again."? Can't find anything about it.

[@DrAlexCullison]

Thank you!

[@JackTheFenris]

IUE-CWA Local 765 to the death of me love my union brothers and sisters warriors for the middle class Americans!

[@jfman22345]

My coworkers and I tried to organize and my boss thought it was a good idea to fire us all

[@jkirsh2857]

Where did you get the footage for the film from?

[@squish7073]

What is the name and who sings the song around the 2 minute mark?

[@tgmurphy]

Can anyone provide a list of the songs & poems in this documentary?

[@cks4124]

SUPPORT ALL UNIONS.

[@studyhistory2ctruth]

UAW member here currently on strike. We have dwindled in numbers but their message still stands.

[@bleeper87]

UNION YES!!!!

[@shibuya3185]

Union No. They have destroyed jobs all over the country.

[@shibuya3185]

@Maxsteel 42 : Unions destroy jobs. They always have.

[@shibuya3185]

@Maxsteel 42 : Yup! And the millions of workers who have lost their jobs because the actions of militant unions.

[@shibuya3185]

@Maxsteel 42 : Er, most of us don't have Union representation but we have vacations and eat well.

[@shibuya3185]

@Maxsteel 42 : "Union membership in the US keeps on falling, like almost everywhere else" qz.com/1542019/union-membership-in-the-us-keeps-on-falling-like-almost-everywhere-else/ It's not because they're doing a good job.

[@siglmgga]

Quality Captioning needed here - #CaptionEverything now for Equal Access. Yes you can

[@robertafierro5592]

Haunting images..

[@aishikgupta]

Americans need to draw inspiration from Eugene V Debs

[@alswann2702]

HOFFA!!

[@spectralmelodies5979]

I can't help but notice how the Indigenous peoples were not included in this vision of justice, a mistake we cannot repeat.

[@NewMexicoRaza]

Your wokeness radiates throught the comment section. Good for you

[@spectralmelodies5979]

@@NewMexicoRaza facts are facts I didn't make it up.

[@DrAlexCullison]

Absolutely!

[@stepno]

Alex, could you put a "making of" webpage somewhere with the source credits for this fine Lawrence Silk film, "The Inheritance" as listed at the end? It would be a great example of the value of creative work. Photographers, singers, voice-over actors, writers, songwriters & filmmakers are workers too... Even if they don't all join one big union, whether I.W.W. or AFL-CIO. :-) Thanks from an AAUP member son of a bartenders' union member.

[@TheMasterTelevision]

I'm trying to find the songs at 1:53, if anyone knows, thank you

[@peteralexander4841]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJOvkmyJm9mBqtE Pass It On - Judy Collins

[@grflorida8975]

4:58 is palm beach island

[@xyrkiejohn26]

WOW I never knew about this? THank you UNION>

[@DrAlexCullison]

You are most welcome!

[@locojazz5770]

No subtitles? 🙄😒

[@eillenhernandez3016]

LOS CAMPEONES DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS Y LA DEMOCRACIA CON MUCHO RESPETO LA HISTORIA DICE LO CONTRARIO.

[@kage2293]

ayy whats up richie

[@DrAlexCullison]

Yes. And role models.

[@sloaneisenbart9347]

union 482, third gen. first gen started in 1965.

[@Ghostworld_]

What's the song in the beginning?

[@lizsmith1716]

I’ve been looking for this song and still can’t find it! Please let me know if you figured it out

[@micah4242]

@@lizsmith1716 i found it kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJu8qaJmf6yjec0

[@lizsmith1716]

@@micah4242 you’re so nice for coming back to this view to share! thank you

[@GhostWolfPrimal]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, for witch it stands. One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[@eillenhernandez3016]

With RESPECT WAKE UP AMERICA SMELL THE COFFEE THIS IS THE HISTORY THAT WAS ERASED FROM YOUR HISTORY BOOKS.

[@saxoncantrell3219]

Oh joy I'm missing a days pay so my union can waste my time with this rather than teach me about my trade like they are supposed to for this appreciation program. I'm already in the damn union. Why do I need to be sold on unions. Any established institution that feels it needs to justify its existence so strongly has likely outlived its usefulness.

[@pamelamyers9613]

St. Louis AFT 420 Teachers Union

[@bryanmelton5538]

THE TEACHERS UNION IS THE WORST

[@pamelamyers9613]

@@bryanmelton5538 Local 420 is not the worst union. And, piss off.

[@ayylmao1239]

Ayy whats up Alex

[@ayylmao1239]

Ayy whats up Richard

[@johnd1655]

legends

[@user-bo8eq7ki5w]

Wow ! Great social battle in history ! The American worker must have been expensive for the businessmen. That's why all manufacturing is now in China , all business and financial capital there. Am I right ?

[@DrAlexCullison]

The history of manufacturing overseas to save labor costs and importing those products is different from the earlier evolution of labor in our country. It wasn't until after WWII that U.S. companies would import foreign products into America and start closing domestic manufacturing plants and factories. Back in the 50's and early 60's all these imported products came from Japan. When Japan's costs of manufacturing rose, the production moved to China, where it has been for decades. China is still cheaper than Mexico. It is suspected that the China government subsidizes the cost of manufacturing to capture the market. The cost of labor is going up worldwide now. Actually that is a good thing for Americans. Google has many foreign car companies are now assembling their cars in the US, typically in the Southern right-to-work states where labor costs are the lowest.

[@user-bo8eq7ki5w]

Ммм..да, многое хотел сказать, но у профсоюзов _АМЕРИКАНСКОЙ НАЦИИ_ есть чему *поучиться* !!! А помните "ленд-лиз" ?! Когда Американские профсоюзы отказались от классовой борьбы на время , для помощи Советской России в деле борьбы против немецко-фашистских захватчиков ( фашисты- передовой отряд реакционного национального капитала) . Ни одной забастовки !!! Кто скажет *БОЛЬШОЕ СПАСИБО* американскому пролетариату за это ?! *НИКТО* !! И вот по прошествии лет *мы можем общаться через всемирную сеть. И я говорю американскому пролетариату 30х-40х годов ( делавших технику и вооружение для "ленд -лиз"'а - *BIG THANKS* !! Broder for work classe ! )) Ни кто еще до этого не до думался, ни кто не сказал "спасибо" ?! Все только делятся и упрекают ! Однако, колько жизней сохранила помощь оружием, как она приблизила "day of victory" над самым темным проявлением капитализма -немецким фашизмом !. Я это понимаю. Остальные -дебилы.

[@bleachedforeskin1431]

Join Labor Movement X, the Movement evolved from the Oct 15th 2021 Gen Strike!

[@jeremywilliams3465]

I am thankful for my Union Job as a Meat Cutter!

[@DrAlexCullison]

Thank you for your comment!

[@commonsensewisdom625]

We buy things that used to be made in USA from China. If the labor unions want their rights, they have to compete with Chinese labor first, because labor jobs unfortunately are replaceable in globalization. If unions want to protect the labor fair income, they have to keep the jobs within US.

[@Ashathefree8]

If labor wants to keep their jobs they should start by liquidating the bourgousie and take control of their own lives.

[@user-wn4sl4qq5m]

If labor wants to keep their jobs,, stop voting republican and maga. Stop voting tor those that don't give a rats behind for your interests. My unu9n bros and sisters, RR was not your friend nor the other republicans. I include the corporate democrats also.

[@commonsensewisdom625]

I’d love to see US workers get paid more. However, in the past 40 yrs, we have lost a lot jobs and not enough money for R&D. We have to find a balance. Don’t be greedy for both sides. We are equal at birth but not equal at end. We have to be competitive like in sports. Not all can play in NBA. A good system should allow people to make more, again like NBA stars.

[@pawanrathore3292]

Plz hindi language translation with upload

[@senorchill503]

This is what made America Great. Not just our precious Constitution.

[@bethany87100]

Local 72

[@Nikki_B.]

Unbelievable

[@robertafierro5592]

A

[@jem2920]

Local 39

[@petermeingast4150]

its a dogs life

[@oscarpena6691]

How the gangsters got involved?

[@DrAlexCullison]

When companies hired guards and goons to beat up workers, some desperate unions needed protection.

[@pawanrathore3292]

हिंदी में ट्रांसलेट करके अपलोड करें

[@eillenhernandez3016]

AMERICA thanks to the struggle of these immigrants today YOU HAVE AN 8HR SHIFT AND OTHER BENEFITS.

[@DrAlexCullison]

That's against the law.

[@easypeasy5219]

UA 72

[@bluesea1769]

In malaysia, the south asian Islamic state, and one of the asian racism states. Different ethnic control over different trades, they choose who deserve a job who don't .

[@DrAlexCullison]

Can you move?

[@bluesea1769]

@@DrAlexCullison I wish I could, but I am not high educated, and I am 45 years old.

[@DrAlexCullison]

@@bluesea1769 Do you have any skills? Something you do well,?

[@bluesea1769]

@@DrAlexCullison No, I don't have any specific skills. The years gone by,I worked in electronic factories, in the kitchen of chinese restaurants , dispatching food by motorcycle, as a auto parts store keeper.

[@memyselfimemyselfi4788]

My union and my B.A is GOD. Always worked because of praying to the most high our Father God. You may not believe me . That's fine . One day you'll know the One day.

[@joelweidenfeld471]

CORPO TRash

[@heatherpage1445]

I have never heard good things about unions. Grew up in the eighties and I understood unions as basically the mob legalized. We're here to protect you, but you have no individual voice. Then I've heard of cliques and favoritism, and harassment from union to the worlers. I would rather speak for myself and the thought of another flipping representative is annoying, honestly. Because they never seem to work for your needs, just their wants. I could be wrong. I've never attempted to enter a union, so i could be wrong. Then the word fees? No thanks.

[@DrAlexCullison]

The first rule is, you can't organize happy employees. If employees are working in a safe environment, paid fairly, are treated respectfully, and enjoy some degree of job security, why would you need a union. But if that's not your situation, then it makes sense. Unions suffer from an image/stigma problem but look at all the other groups of people using trade/professional organizations to achieve their goals. AMA, ABA, Farm Bureau, Manufacturing businesses, and hundreds more, working collectively to better their situation. But heaven forbid if exploited workers join together in order to achieve their common goals. Hundreds and maybe thousands of workers have died to provide you with rights you take for granted. Did you even watch all of this video?