Labour Movements

Labour movements in the U.S were significant in addressing the challenges faced by employees in different working groups. For instance, blue collar workers were consequently represented by such movements, in the sense that the movements aimed at airing their grievances. The African Americans were usually discriminated hence they occupied most menial jobs, since they were considered as being less equal to the whites. They worked for long hours, but were paid low wages and they did not also have holidays and medical support. They worked every day but their earnings depended on the hours they worked. When someone fell sick, it was enough reason for the person to lose the job (Chapter 13).

Nevertheless, they came together and formed a movement in 1963, after Jones called for a strike which saw all the workers being laid off. This marked the beginning of labour movements, after an electric shock activate a garbage truck which crushed two men. The men did not have medical insurance, a factor which made it hard for them to receive any form of assistance. The African Americans therefore decided to come up with unions, which would be able to cater for the needs of the employees, hence acting as bargaining agencies (Chapter 13). Most blue collar workers joined labour unions since they were responsible for enabling them to air their grievances. Labour unions became more dominant, due to the way they were effective in demanding for good working conditions, high pay, and respect for all the employees. After a series of demonstrations, the government gave in to the grievances of the African American’s thus the unions were recognized and allowed to carry on with their activities.

Work Cited

Chapter 13. Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining.

Black Truth Manifest. I am a Man Dr Kin amp the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike. Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmbBETHRd6U