3 of 4

Write now Article Tools

There are two big differences between the midieval guilds of ancient days, and the modern labor unions of the later 19th, and early 20th centuries. These differences show the change in business and society as a whole, and how the need for the common man to work together against more powerful forces is the same in the past and today.

During the midieval times, the guilds were the controlling force of all skilled labor, and apprenticing for work done in a city, or under the rule of a nobleman. Usually, you could not even get into a guild without a sponsor, and the best example of this was the bastard Leonardo Di Vinci. His father, who had Leonardo without marrying his mother, was kind enought to give this sponsorship to the artisans guild in Florence Italy. The guild was far more advanced than just a simple coop of skilled labor... they helped you perfect your primary craft, but taught you others that all intertwined in the commissions the guild received from city leaders or noblemen for work. Leonardo was an aspiring painter, but in the guild he learned not only sculpture, but architecture and engineering.

The guilds of the midieval times were also powerful in their control of who did the work. Guild masters would receive commissions and choose a person or group of people to carry out the work and receive a part of the payment. Individuals who hired themselves out had to answer to the guilds, and this sometimes included violence or death. As opposed to labor unions, where coporations could always find cheap labor anywhere, society recognized the guilds and rarely went outside them for work needed to be done.

The second main difference was the fact that there wasnt a large merchant class in midieval times, so you didnt have companies producing products and services that opened up many jobs. Commissions were usually individual in nature, and you would dedicate yourself perhaps for years in finishing that commission.

The labor unions were made up of unskilled workers and they did not have the political clout at the beginning to keep corporations from hiring replacements if they rebelled. Since they were mostly unskilled labor doing the work of auto making, mining, tailoring, and long-shore work, the ever massing of new immigrants made it difficult to ask for any concessions when all companies had to do was hire these new people off the boat for the same wages.

Skilled versus unskilled, and single commissions versus large companies are the two economic and societal differences between the guilds and the labor movement.

However, as labor grew in power, they discovered that they had something in common with the guilds of the middle ages... they could use their large numbers to aass political clout. Many poltiicians of the day, and still in our times receive mass amounts of money from the unions to ensure their needs are met. Similarly, the guilds had polticial clout as well in ensuring that no one could do business outside the guilds, and their use of force and violence to keep this the way of business was overlooked most times in the courts and goverments.

Learn more about this author, Kenneth Schortgen Jr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Comparing medieval guilds to the modern labor movement?
We want to hear your view. Write now!