The National Trades' Union (NTU) was the first federation of
labor unions in the United States
Labor unions represent United States workers in many industries recognized under US labor law since the 1935 enactment of the National Labor Relations Act. Their activity centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working cond ...
. It was established in 1834, but collapsed during the
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the United States that began a major depression (economics), depression which lasted until the mid-1840s. Profits, prices, and wages dropped, westward expansion was stalled, unemployment rose, and pes ...
.
History
The National Trades' Union was not only the first American society vying for uniform wage standards, it was also the first union to operate on a federal scale. By 1836, 300,000 workers were members of the union. Under the federation, by 1836 around fifty unions had formed in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Boston, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Washington, D.C., Newark and New Brunswick, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Kentucky; and elsewhere. While some organized national unions within their crafts, most participated in citywide "trades' unions," which established the short-lived National Trades' Union in 1834 under the leadership of first
Ely Moore then John Commerford.
The NTU's focuses included uniform wages, 10-hour work days, as well as legislation that would benefit workers. This included a push for the establishment of
public libraries
''Public Libraries'' is the official publication of the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). It is devoted exclusively to public libraries. The print edition is published six times a year and i ...
and reforms in areas of education and labor. The National Trades' Union also influenced The Workingman's Party, the first political party focused on labor.
The NTU collapsed with most of its constituent bodies during the Panic of 1837.
References
{{Reflist
*A Cox, DC Bok, MW Finkin and RA Gorman, Labor Law: Cases and Materials (2006) 11
United States labor law