In the early 1900s, many workers in Alabama had tough jobs. Some worked in coal mines or factories for long hours with little pay. Even young children worked in dangerous places. Reformers and labor unions wanted to change these unfair working conditions and help protect workers across the state.
Fighting to Protect Children
One big problem in Alabama was child labor. Children as young as 10 worked in cotton mills, coal mines, and other factories. They worked long hours and missed school. Many people thought this was unfair and unsafe.
The Alabama Child Labor Committee worked to change this. They gave speeches, wrote letters, and met with lawmakers to ask for better laws. Thanks to their efforts, Alabama passed some child labor laws, but many factories still found ways to get around the rules.
A Voice for Workers
Workers in Alabama’s mines also wanted better pay and safer conditions. In 1908, coal miners in the Birmingham area went on strike. This event, called the Birmingham District Coal Strike, was led by the United Mine Workers union. The miners wanted higher wages and better treatment. The strike lasted months, but many miners had to return to work without winning what they hoped for.
Even though the strike didn’t bring big changes right away, it showed how workers could speak up together. It also helped more people learn about the dangers miners faced every day.
Caring for Children’s Safety
Another leader for change was Loraine Bedsole Tunstall. She worked for the Alabama Department of Child Welfare and cared deeply about helping children. She pushed for better laws to protect children’s health, safety, and education. Her work helped bring attention to the needs of poor families and children who had to work to help support their families.
A Step Toward Change
Labor reform in Alabama was not easy. Many factory owners and business leaders didn’t want to change the rules. But reformers, unions, and caring leaders kept fighting. Their efforts helped make workplaces a little safer and gave workers more rights.
The work of people like the Alabama Child Labor Committee, the United Mine Workers, and Loraine Bedsole Tunstall showed that standing up for fairness can make a difference—even when change takes time.