Question

Speculate as to why men might have continued working in the packing houses under such conditions. Why do you think they didn’t seek other employment, or seek to unionize at this point?

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Speculate as to why men might have continued working in the packing houses under such conditions. Why do you think they didn’t seek other employment, or seek to unionize at this point?

I can speculate and said that these men worked in those meat packaging companies in Chicago because they had the necessity and that was the only type of job they were able to do because they lacked the preparation and education to perform other kinds of jobs.

So when people have a necessity -and in this case to survive and make a daily living- they accept any kind of job, no matter the difficulties.

I think they didn’t seek other employment, or seek to unionize at this point because they did not have that vision. They lived by the day, They only thought of earning some money to feed their families. When people are working in these conditions and under these circumstances, they are only focused on the grind, not having the time and the consciousness to think beyond their basic needs. And that is a real pity.

Upton Sinclair is the author of the novel titled "The Jungle," written in 1906. In the novel, American journalist Upton Sinclair describes the horrible and unhealthy conditions of the meatpacking industry of America.