In Medieval Europe, during the feudal period in the 11th century, a guild was a significant association of practitioners of a specific craft. Examples of these crafts were baking, masonry, smithing, trading, etc. The purpose of formation was to protect and maintain their crafts. Guild passed knowledge by members, and they guaranteed their continuation by training apprentices who carried them on. An apprentice was taught by a master, then he travelled doing jobs as a journeyman. Later, he became a master, opening a shop and trained apprentices. Guilds also regulated members’ practices. Overall, guilds were representative bodies for the craftsmen. Similar to a guild, a labor union is an organized body of workers with a common mission. They also
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The advent of mechanized industry and mass mobilization of workers in industrialization made guilds of local specialists obsolete. Trade unions can be seen as the successors to guilds since membership is based on a particular trade or skill. People like plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and carpenters, may organized trade unions . On the other hand, there are industrial unions, whose membership can lack specific skills entirely. Instead, these unions form based on their position as workers in areas, such as manufacturing, field labor, construction, and so on. Employers pay these people in wages, which is pay based on how much work is put in each day. This threatens income security as illness or injury, ailments that prevent working, means no pay or even losing the job. These unskilled wage laborers are in danger of exploitation by employers. Increase in machinery for manufacturing jobs can replace the unskilled workers, since they are more profitable and efficient. These are dangerous to unskilled laborers as their lack of skills and the lack of complexity in their jobs can make them expendable. Critics of wage labor have dubbed it as “wage slavery” due to working conditions and the low pay. Unions for the unskilled laborers help secure them in income or job security and protect them from
The advent of mechanized industry and mass mobilization of workers in industrialization made guilds of local specialists obsolete. Trade unions can be seen as the successors to guilds since membership is based on a particular trade or skill. People like plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and carpenters, may organized trade unions . On the other hand, there are industrial unions, whose membership can lack specific skills entirely. Instead, these unions form based on their position as workers in areas, such as manufacturing, field labor, construction, and so on. Employers pay these people in wages, which is pay based on how much work is put in each day. This threatens income security as illness or injury, ailments that prevent working, means no pay or even losing the job. These unskilled wage laborers are in danger of exploitation by employers. Increase in machinery for manufacturing jobs can replace the unskilled workers, since they are more profitable and efficient. These are dangerous to unskilled laborers as their lack of skills and the lack of complexity in their jobs can make them expendable. Critics of wage labor have dubbed it as “wage slavery” due to working conditions and the low pay. Unions for the unskilled laborers help secure them in income or job security and protect them from