2. Elizabeth
Background:
Elizabeth, a 19 year old woman, left her family home in the Manchester suburbs to work in the city at age 16. Elizabeth is trying to earn enough money so that she can help support her family, whose farm has not been profitable for the last several years.
Work:
Elizabeth works in Mr. Junko's textile factory as a weaver. She lives in a tenement apartment and often must bring her work home with her and finish it there while eating dinner. Elizabeth works a 12 hour days at the textile factory and is paid $1 a day.
Wants:
Unionize?
Elizabeth is an advocate (supporter) of trade unions. She feels the only way for the common worker to gain any power is by uniting. However, Elizabeth needs her job to survive and is careful not to let her views be known by any of her coworkers who she does not know well enough to trust. She fears being fired by Mr. Junko if he learns she is “agitating” his workers by attempting to form a union.
Background:
Elizabeth, a 19 year old woman, left her family home in the Manchester suburbs to work in the city at age 16. Elizabeth is trying to earn enough money so that she can help support her family, whose farm has not been profitable for the last several years.
Work:
Elizabeth works in Mr. Junko's textile factory as a weaver. She lives in a tenement apartment and often must bring her work home with her and finish it there while eating dinner. Elizabeth works a 12 hour days at the textile factory and is paid $1 a day.
Wants:
- Elizabeth wants her workday reduced to 8 hours.
- She refuses to work more than 8 hours regardless of the pay being offered.
- Elizabeth is also seeking a guarantee (in the form of a long-term contract) from Mr. Junko that the women at the factory will not be replaced by the cheap immigrant labor that is flooding the city.
Unionize?
Elizabeth is an advocate (supporter) of trade unions. She feels the only way for the common worker to gain any power is by uniting. However, Elizabeth needs her job to survive and is careful not to let her views be known by any of her coworkers who she does not know well enough to trust. She fears being fired by Mr. Junko if he learns she is “agitating” his workers by attempting to form a union.