The Knights of Labor was a national labor union founded by Uriah Stephens on December 28, 1869. They appealed to the un-skilled laborers and women, but they called themselves “a universal brotherhood of workers” and did not turn down prospective members based on their occupation, skin color, or gender (243). The union’s platform bravely proclaims, “An Injury to One is an Injury to All” (243). They actively perused the eight-hour work day, ending child labor, and implementing health and safety standards. The Knights were the first union to advocate equal pay for equal work. Members knew that men at the time were making twice as much as their female counterparts. The Knights were the only union at the time with such a stand and this attracted
