The Knights of Labor was a women’s labor union founded in 1869 by Uriah Stephens. It was a created to for the purpose of promoting the role of working women in society and aimed to generate fair and equal pay and treatment for the working women in America. They were opposed to the ideals of socialism and radicalism and demanded shorter working days, an end to unfair fines and penalties, and higher wages. The organization was open to all working women except, “bankers, lawyers, stockbrokers, doctors, and liquor manufacturers” (Knights of Labor). They leaders of the Union took part in investigations such as investigating the sewing women in Newark whom were “very poorly paid, and the system of fines in many industries [in Newark] were severe and unjust” (Knights of Labor). The union started off as a secretive and small organization in its early stages but grew to have 700,000 members by 1886. However, at that point the poor structure of the organization began to collapse and many of its members abandoned the union by 1887. By 1949 the last 50 members disowned the organization and it became merely history.
This Knights of Labor is a direct example of a labor union in the late 1880’s to early 1900’s that we have been learning about in American Studies. Labor unions such as this one were formed mainly to ensure fair wages, fair treatment of workers, and usually mainly to safeguard job security and productivity for independent businesses during the industrial revolution. However, in this case women formed a group to fight for and confirm their rights in the working class as they viewed themselves as equal workers to men and desired and demanded fair payment and equal treatment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Labor
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