A Brief History Of Minimum Wage. For those not aware, a little history on minimum wage. From the beginning of the industrial revolution to the Minimum Wage Act of 1938, companies took full advantage of their laborers. Unsafe working conditions that lead to maiming and death, working between 10-16 hours was not uncommon, child labor, was not uncommon. They did not have their own homes, instead living in barracks with many other families. Companies would also not pay their employees. Instead, they would get vouchers for the company stores on the grounds. If you have ever heard the 1946 song “Sixteen Tons” by Merle Travis, the song is about a coal miner whom cannot get a hand on life because of the treatment at his workplace. “You load sixteen tons, What do you get another day older and deeper in debt Saint Peter don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go I owe my soul to the company store” The line “I owe my soul to the company store” refers to the vouchers that companies would give their employees in exchange for their labor. The vouchers had absolutely no value outside of the company grounds. Eventually, the workers would gather together against companies and form the first labor unions. While trying to strike, some companies such as Lattimer Mine near Hazelton, Pennsylvania and Paint Creek Mine near Cabin Creek, West Virginia called in military, police as well as their own private security and opened fire on employees. Many times, women and children would be caught in the crossfire. Today, even if you are not in a labor union, you benefit from their existence. We have an 8 hour work day, overtime pay for anything over 40 hours, holidays and weekends, sick and vacation days, and organizations like OSHA to ensure workplace safety. Despite declining membership in recent years, labor unions still have a necessary place in our society. And, one of the most important things that unions are responsible for, is the minimum wage.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 05:26:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015