United States 1905

Synopsis

The American Association of Labor Legislation (AALL) was a pioneering organization that dealt with labor reform and legislation during the late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. Its commitment to social welfare is expressed by the slogan that appeared on its 1915 Review of Labor Legislation article: "To create a minimum standard of life below which no human being can fall is the most elementary duty of the democratic state." The AALL reform leaders were motivated primarily by the problem of worker insecurity around incidents such as on-the-job accidents, work-related illnesses, and employer-caused unemployment. The organization dedicated itself to promoting better employee compensation in the United States. The AALL also worked diligently for a national system of compulsory social insurance and protective labor legislation. AALL members, taken as a whole, basically felt that government action...