ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a background for a better understanding of the contemporary situation. Early Massachusetts labor legislation may help to make some obscure and difficult to locate historical materials known and more easily accessible to readers. The chapter explains the course of Massachusetts labor legislation during the period from 1900–1930. James Leiby has stated: “The ten-hour movement drew its strength from the mill workers and its leadership from philanthropists and politicians; it was quite distinct from the Eight-Hour Grand League, led by Ira Steward and George McNeill. Mrs. Johnson continued: One of the first steps taken by the new Child labor movement was to formulate some definite standards for legislation. In addition to improving and expanding the coverage and enforcement of hours legislation, two of the significant creakthroughs achieved by the reform coalition in Massachusetts were in the areas of minimum wage legislation and workmens compensation.
