“I’ve worked in the mill in my day, until nine o’clock at night, from seven in the mornin’…I wouldn’t want to go back to it, and I don’t think anyone else would. An eight hour day is long enough.”
Matthew White, circa 1938-1939

Founded in 1866, The National Labor Union was the first national labor federation to be formed in the United States. The National Labor Union (NLU) brought national labor unions and eight hour leagues across the nation together. Though the NLU did not achieve much success, dissolving in 1872, it did pave the way for other organizations like the Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor (both of which also excluded workers based on their race, namely the Chinese).

Despite the racist policy of these organizations, it is important to note their positive historical significance. On this week in capitalism, the National Labor Union called on Congress to mandate an eight-hour workday. Although the NLU failed to persuade Congress to enact this labor reform, it did heighten public awareness of labor issues and increased public support. Later groups would prove more effective in wining the right for the eight-hour day.

P.S. I know this post is short, but the weekly “This Week in Capitalism” was skipped over while I was on vacation and the only people who will see this post now are you poor saps scanning the archives. Sorry.

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