Both the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Knights of Labor (KOL) were influential in their respective sectors. AFL defended the rights of skilled workers and had more 4 million members by 1920. On the other hand, KOL defended the rights of both skilled and unskilled workers and had 700,000 members by 1886.

One of the main differences between the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor is that the former one was more radical. The AFL was a formal federation of labor unions whereas Knights of Labor was much more a secretive type. AFL won higher wages and shorter workweeks.

The Knights worked for improvements with Powderly for the workers. The goals now were an 8 hour workday, equal pay for equal work for ken and women, and an end to child labor.

What was a major difference between the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor? The Knights of Labor included African Americans, but the American Federation of Labor excluded them. What types of jobs were created by the Industrial Revolution?

Gompers’s strategy was simple: use strikes to force concessions from business owners. The AFL sought tangible economic gains, such as higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions. They also made sure that they avoided politics.

The Knights organized unskilled and skilled workers, campaigned for an eight hour workday, and aspired to form a cooperative society in which laborers owned the industries in which they worked.

American Federation of labor (AFL) remains one of powerful labor unions, organizing workers in skilled trades. Goals of AFL were better working conditions, higher pay, and union recognition.

The Knights’ primary demand was for the eight-hour workday. They also called for legislation to end child and convict labor as well as a graduated income tax. They also supported cooperatives.

For those in the industrial sector, organized labor unions fought for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The labor movement led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.

The main purpose of labor unions is to give workers the power to negotiate for more favorable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining.

The main goal of the labor unions during the late 1800s and early 1900s was fighting for better wages, better working conditions that included safety and reasonable hours of work.

the major goal of the early labor unions were better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions.

Unions are important because they help set the standards for education, skill levels, wages, working conditions, and quality of life for workers. Unions also work to establish laws improving job conditions for their members through legislation at the national, state and local level.

To get their demands, the unions rely on various strategies during the course of bargaining, including striking, parading, boycott and collective bargaining.

It is easiest to differentiate among three distinct levels within the labor movement: local unions, national unions, and federations.

Private Unions: In craft unions, also called horizontal unions, members share the same skill or occupation, such as the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Industrial unions, also called vertical unions, represent workers in the same industry, regardless of their particular skill, such as the United Auto Workers.

Here are some of the jobs available in the industries with the most union workers.

1. Public Sector. Member of Unions: Federal: 26.4%, State: 28.6%, Local 40.3%4
2. Utilities. Members of Unions: 20.1%4
3. Transportation.
4. Telecommunications.
5. Educational Services.
6. Construction.
7. Motion Pictures and Sound Recording.
8. Manufacturing.

The objectives of unions are to ensure fair wages, benefits, and better working conditions for their members. Industry deregulation, increased competition, and labor mobility have made it more difficult for traditional unions to operate.

Today most labor unions (or trade unions) in the United States are members of one of two larger umbrella organizations: the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) or the Change to Win Federation, which split from the AFL-CIO in 2005-2006.

One of the most fundamental issues for union leaders and members is long-term job stability. Unions believe that companies have a duty to retain hard-working employees and fight layoffs and terminations.