Labor Day Special: The Most Bizarre Facts About Union History

5. This Union Started As A Secret Society

The Knights of Labor was once a secret society. As noted by the History Channel online, it began in 1869 and consisted of tailors in Philadelphia. In secret the union fought for the eight-hour work week, abolishing child labor and the graduated income tax. The secrecy was to prevent employers from firing members. Its membership grew quickly to include other industries. By 1886 it had 700,000 members resulting in the union changing its rules about being secret.