Explore the early movement to protect railroad workers by limiting hours and improving safety.
This primary-source record captures a 1906 congressional hearing where lawmakers and industry representatives discuss bills to cap hours for railroad employees. The proceedings reveal arguments about worker well‑being, accident prevention, and the practical effects on schedules, wages, and interstate commerce.
Readers gain insight into the era’s tensions between labor and management, the role of unions, and the legislative process used to address a pressing industrial safety issue.
- Context for early 20th‑century labor reform and workplace safety.
- Evidence of how hours, rest, and compensation were negotiated across lines of work.
- Direct exchanges between committee members, union reps, and rail executives.
- Observations on how new labor standards could affect efficiency and accident risk.
Ideal for readers interested in labor history, regulatory policy, or the evolution of workers’ rights in America.