Craft unions and industrial unions

     As factories grew in number and size, the number of laborers employed in them naturally also grew, and soon they began to consider organization.

    The first organizations of factory employees in Iowa were social as much as industrial. But after the Civil War, typographers (printers), cigarmakers, bricklayers, coopers, and others formed craft unions. Only those who belonged to a definite trade could become members of a craft union.

    After a while the craft unions formed a State Federation of Labor, which joined the American Federation of Labor, a national organization.

    Shortly after the Civil War, also, another national organization of laborers, the Knights of Labor, tried to organize all laborers, skilled and unskilled, in one big union for the purpose of promoting the general welfare of all wage-earners. In Iowa there were at one time about 25,000 "Knights", mostly coal miners. But when interest in the big union declined, as it did in a few years, many coal miners joined the United Mine Workers, a national organization.

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    Just before the outbreak of World War I, the Industrial Workers of the World tried to organize all unskilled and semi-skilled laborers in local unions. They attempted to gain adherents in some Iowa cities, but without any permanent results.

    A similar, much more successful organization is Congress of Industrial Organizations (C. I. O.), which seeks to enroll all unskilled and semi-skilled laborers in one big national union. This organization has locals in many Iowa cities.

Strikes and lockouts

     In their struggles for better pay and working conditions, the unions sometimes resort to strikes and boycotts. Employers on their part to protect themselves use lockouts, or they may appeal to the courts for an injunction if a strike becomes violent.

    The better way, for both employee and employer, is to adjust labor disputes by arbitration, that is, by negotiated and peaceful settlement.

Laws favorable to labor

     In 1884 the State of Iowa established a Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the instance of the Knights of Labor. At first the bureau merely collected statistics. But it has become a general welfare bureau for all workers, young and old, men and women. It has promoted interest in legislation for the welfare of the workers. Also it has encouraged the celebration of Labor Day, which has been observed since 1890.

    Spurred on by the Bureau, the General Assembly passed the Factory Act of 1902, which prohibited the employment of women and children in dangerous occupations. Also, an act of 1906 forbade children under 14 to work in mines, shops, factories or slaughter houses, employing more than eight persons.

    In 1913 Iowa became a pioneer in employer's liability and workmen's compensation legislation. This act of 1913 makes it possible for a worker who suffers bodily injuries while working for others to obtain compensation without having to go to law. The industry rather than the employer pays the compensation. Later still has come legislation to aid workers in securing employment and for unemployment compensation.

Two Iowa labor leadership

     Among the nationally known labor leaders, John L. Lewis, holds a prominent place. He was born in the town of Lucas, Iowa. At the....

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.... age of 12 he began to work in the coal mine. He served for years as president of the United Mine Workers, and was active in the organization of Congress of Industrial Organizations. Another noted Iowa labor leader was the late Wallace M. Short, who was born on a farm in Page County. He studied at Amity College in this county, became a minister, a labor leader, mayor of Sioux City, and owner and editor of the labor paper, the Unionist and Public Forum.

Questions and Exercises: Distinguish between craft union and industrial union. Who were the Knights of Labor? How many joined them in Iowa? Who were the Industrial Workers of the World? Compare the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. Look up: lockout, boycott, injunction, arbitration. State the purpose of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What rights have employees under the Employers' Liability and Workmen's Compensation Act? Compare John L. Lewis and Wallace M. Short.