全国劳工联盟 (National Labor Union) 于1866年8月20日要求一天只工作八小时

一天工作几个小时才是合理的呢？在1866年8月20日，由技工、非技工、农夫，以及改革者组成的全国劳工联盟要求国会下令一天只能工作八小时。

全国劳工联盟设立的目的在于施压国会，使之制订相关改革法案。但是这个联盟却无法说服国会缩短每天的工时，而且这个组织在1873年也自行解散。然而，这个组织的努力让大众警觉到劳工议题的重要性，而大众对于劳工改革到了1870年代与1880年代也越来越积极支持。

在这部影片里，世纪交替前的工厂里，工人用时钟来计算自己的工作时数。你认不认识曾经按过这种计时钟的人呢？


How many hours is a reasonable workday? On August 20, 1866, the National Labor Union, made up of skilled and unskilled workers, farmers, and reformers, called on Congress to order an eight-hour workday.

The National Labor Union was created to pressure Congress to make labor law reforms. The Union failed to persuade Congress to shorten the workday and the labor organization itself dissolved in 1873. However, its efforts heightened public awareness of labor issues and increased public support for labor reform in the 1870s and 1880s.

In this film, turn-of-the-century factory workers keep track of the hours they worked by punching a time clock. Do you know anyone who punches a time clock?

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