The novel showed America the problems with the meat industry. How unsanitary and disgusting things were in the meat they ate every day. This book helped establish the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act. As impactful as these acts were for the food they did nothing for the workers. The workers had to figure out how to protect themselves. The working class had little education, no money and zero political influence. The only way to change their circumstances would be to unite. They put their own lives on the line to fight for decent pay and safe working conditions. They worked to establish a union. An organization that represents workers defending their rights. The union would fight for decent wages, benefits and safe working
…show more content…
They ensure no one loses their job unjustly. It was a violent and slow battle establishing a powerful union. Unions were allowed but discouraged. Workers had a hard time agreeing on what they were all fighting for. Some wanted to fight for extreme socialist and capitalist ideas while others only wanted a couple more cents an hour. Another problem was that of equality. Should all races be treated equal and the same with men and women?
The American Federation of Labor was founded in 1886 which later chartered the Amalgamated Meat Cutters & Butcher Workmen of North America (AMC&BW of NA). The unskilled majority made six dollars a week. While the skilled minority made three-fifty a day. In the beginning of the 1900’s the union started making demands. First demanding the skilled workers wage be raised by ten percent. Later, requesting the wages of the unskilled workers to be raised sent the companies over the edge. They responded by lowering the wages of all workers. The union then organized a nationwide strike with over 50,000 participants. This strike was extremely unsuccessful as it resulted in a long list of blacklisted strikers and member decline. By the 1920’s all ethnicities were involved helping organize workers in …show more content…
Between the years of 1960-1970 union pay was 14-18 percent higher. In the late 70’s AMC&BWofNA merge with Retail Clerks International to form what we are a part of today the United Food and Commercial Workers. The 1980’s bought in a new era for the meat industry. The Chicago union stockyard closed in the 70’s while meat packing plants moved to rural areas closer to the livestock. Iowa Beef Processors IBP influenced major change in the meat industry. The revolutionized the disassembly line, introduced power saws, mechanical knives and most importantly created the boxed meat concept we all know and use today. Despite butchers in New York attempting to ban boxed meat because it took away jobs of real butcher’s boxed meat took over. It cut down on shipping cost. It allowed grocers to employ less butchers saving money on time and labor. IBP increased worker speed and productivity by continuing to give one person one job. This kept labor costs low because they were not employing “skilled workers”. IBP became the major competitor. Many small farms and companies went under because they were not able to keep up with IBP’s low prices and convenience. Other major companies like Tyson, Armor and Smithfield had to adapt IBP’s method in
They ensure no one loses their job unjustly. It was a violent and slow battle establishing a powerful union. Unions were allowed but discouraged. Workers had a hard time agreeing on what they were all fighting for. Some wanted to fight for extreme socialist and capitalist ideas while others only wanted a couple more cents an hour. Another problem was that of equality. Should all races be treated equal and the same with men and women?
The American Federation of Labor was founded in 1886 which later chartered the Amalgamated Meat Cutters & Butcher Workmen of North America (AMC&BW of NA). The unskilled majority made six dollars a week. While the skilled minority made three-fifty a day. In the beginning of the 1900’s the union started making demands. First demanding the skilled workers wage be raised by ten percent. Later, requesting the wages of the unskilled workers to be raised sent the companies over the edge. They responded by lowering the wages of all workers. The union then organized a nationwide strike with over 50,000 participants. This strike was extremely unsuccessful as it resulted in a long list of blacklisted strikers and member decline. By the 1920’s all ethnicities were involved helping organize workers in …show more content…
Between the years of 1960-1970 union pay was 14-18 percent higher. In the late 70’s AMC&BWofNA merge with Retail Clerks International to form what we are a part of today the United Food and Commercial Workers. The 1980’s bought in a new era for the meat industry. The Chicago union stockyard closed in the 70’s while meat packing plants moved to rural areas closer to the livestock. Iowa Beef Processors IBP influenced major change in the meat industry. The revolutionized the disassembly line, introduced power saws, mechanical knives and most importantly created the boxed meat concept we all know and use today. Despite butchers in New York attempting to ban boxed meat because it took away jobs of real butcher’s boxed meat took over. It cut down on shipping cost. It allowed grocers to employ less butchers saving money on time and labor. IBP increased worker speed and productivity by continuing to give one person one job. This kept labor costs low because they were not employing “skilled workers”. IBP became the major competitor. Many small farms and companies went under because they were not able to keep up with IBP’s low prices and convenience. Other major companies like Tyson, Armor and Smithfield had to adapt IBP’s method in