Labor unions

Labor unions are collective organizations of workers to improve working conditions or increase their bargaining power with employers and corporations. While guilds and similar organizations date as far back as ancient civilizations such as Rome, the roots of modern labor groups began in the 19th century and, in the United States of America, saw particular emergence into the 1900s and through the thirties.
Unions exist in trades ranging from traditional working class occupations to craftsmen and specialists to the creative arts. Apart from organizing, negotiating, and petitioning, labor strikes have resulted as a means of achieving goals, with varying success. In the US, unions are typically divided into locals with numbers after them, branches of a larger industry union within a specific city or region.
The establishment of Labor Day as a federal holiday was the result of efforts by American labor unions.
==References==
* In the Sam and Friends broadcast of April 8, 1960, Kermit operates a TV camera on a weather satellite, displaying his card for the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, making him a union cameraman.Shemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. p. 448
* During a Meet the Press parody sketch on Sam and Friends (date unknown), the guests are James Forthright and John Smith, respectively president and vice president of the National Brotherhood of Swindlers, Hoods, and Confidence Men (a union for criminals). President Forthright uses legalese to blurry his replies. He's more frank upon being asked if he's an honest man: "This is a gangster's union... You can't have an honest man president of a bunch of crooks."ibid. p. 516-517
* An April 03, 1963 installment of Today included a Muppet sketch in which Rowlf and Baskerville form a dogs' union.Jim's Red Book - 8/7/1979 ATV closes down on strike - after minor strikes
* Beginning in 1968 and becoming common in the 1970s, New York City was subject to frequent sanitation strikes, part of the city's ongoing financial turmoil and budget crises. These even affected the street on occasion, although Sesame Street as a series never mentioned specific unions. 
::One in Episode 0256 was taped in March 1971, three years after the big 1968 garbage strike and three months before a municipal employees' strike (which while not including sanitation specifically, did include sewage workers and some drivers). 
::Oscar the Grouch reads about another garbage strike in Episode 0904, reveling in the trash piling up and expressing a hope that they never settle it. The episode aired on April 29, 1976, with the most recent strike (by drivers of private disposal carting companies) settled in December 1975.
* Biff attends weekly union meetings with other workers on his shift, according to Sesame Street Episode 0605. The only specific detail revealed is that the group drinks root beer.
* After the chickens perform the opening number in The Muppet Show episode 207, Kermit negotiates with the poultry performers about accommodations. Kermit explains his acceding to their demands by remarking that "they've got a very tough union."
* The Mudman is a member of Mudman's Union, Local 1 (as emblazoned on his cap) and cites union regulations to Oscar the Grouch in Sesame Street Episode 1732, that he makes only one delivery to one trash can.
* Kermit announces Fozzie's magic act in The Muppet Show episode 421 as appearing despite protests from the Magicians' Union. 
* A union spider (the International Brotherhood of Spiders, Local 1) complains about the lyrics to "Eensy Weensy Spider" in Sesame Street Episode 2271. He demands either a lyrical adjustment (letting the spider make it to the top) or more money.
* In Sesame Street Episode 2480, the mouse from "Hickory Dickory Dock" claims that he can't climb a broken clock due to nursery rhyme union rules.
* Biff suggests they call in the teamsters to help fold up a map of Hooper's Store in Sesame Street Episode 2791.
* A delivery person gets even with Oscar for a trick he's pulled by taking the long route back to his can to deliver a package in Episode 2814 of Sesame Street. Before his trek he comments he may just stop by the union hall for a talk with the guys.
* The Penguinos Quartet, feeling overworked in Sesame Street Episode 3075, tell Telly Monster he'll be hearing from their union.
* The Tooth Fairy comments that he hopes he doesn't lose his Fairy Union card after misplacing his reference book in Sesame Street Episode 3266.
* Joey and Davey Monkey are informed by Big Bird in Sesame Street Episode 3321 that they only get paid after they perform the job. They conclude they need a stronger union.
* Dr. Phil Van Neuter, arguing with Mulch about an overlong music cue in Muppets Tonight episode 203, responds to the latter's mutterings with "Go on and take me to the union, you creep!"
* The Around the World newspaper in Sesame Street Episode 4903 advertises a story regarding an impending strike by the Dinger Bellhop Union, Local 123.
* A Fraggle Rock t-shirt produced by Retrokid in 2024 features the Doozers International Association Radishworkers Local 83 (Doozer Dome & Vicinity) for Bridges, Structural Ornamental and Reinforcing Radishworkers.
==See also==
*Clubs and Organizations
*Capitalism
==Sources==
 
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Category:Organization References
Category:Miscellaneous Lists