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I respect the fact that the stabilizing force that was the modern labor movement would not be possible without the work of the medieval guilds that preceded it. Knowing your history can be very edifying and that is certainly the case here. Without the work of both these movements there worker's rights would be much worse off than they are today. It is important to look at each individual movement before making a direct comparison.

The medieval guilds were sort of a silent movement that started during the late middle ages. This was the first time alliances between workers was becoming obvious. In Roman times craftsman had formed guilds but they were nowhere near as organized as these. This is when guilds and the idea of things like strikes came into play and were implemented as a form of leverage against local businesses.

The modern labor movement is the same movement only in our era and done through methods of incorporation. These are legally correct organizations that have vast networks of people and numerous capabilities. As their membership has grown so has their influence. Some of the most notable figures from this movement are Jimmy Hoffa and Mary Harris Jones.

I think that these two movements are just the same need manifesting in different times. Thanks to the guilds and their child the labor movement workers today stand united and able to rise above the tyranny of the companies they work for. And by acting with such authority, they actually make it so that the business they work for does not even think of cheating them in the first place. It wouldn't dare to...

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