Question

Why did owners oppose collective bargaining

Answer 1

AFL.
American Federation of Labor.
Led by Samuel Gompers.
organized individualized national union.
Limited its membership to skilled workers.
It gave the union great bargaining power, but left out most ordinary workers.
AFL tried to get better wages, hours and working conditions for laborers.
It grew to a large union.
All workers acting together, workers had much greater chance of success in negotiating with management.
Most employers opposed collective bargaining, they would rather go out of business.

Answer 2

Because they wanted to keep the profits for them selves and pay their workers low wages and did not want their workers to be represented by trade unions as they will not be able to be keep the intended profits