The collapse of the National Labor Union occurred during the Panic of 1873. <u>Four (4) years</u> after William Sylvis's passing in 1869, it started to fall apart.
William H. Sylvis, an ironworker with the goal of uniting all skilled and unskilled workers in the country, founded and served as the leader of this first labor union in 1866. It demanded an 8-hour workday, and by 1868, the union had grown to 640,000 members!
The union sought to address the following labor-related issues:
lower pay
lengthy hours
repetitive work
using children
unsafe work environment
minimal interaction with owners
wished to implement a 5-day work week.
wished to establish laws protecting workers' rights and dignity
