What was the main focus of collective bargaining during the Gilded Age?

During the Gilded Age, the main focus of collective bargaining was primarily geared towards improving workplace conditions and wages. Workers during this era faced challenging and often dangerous work environments, long hours, and minimal pay. Collective bargaining emerged as a vital tool for labor unions and workers to negotiate for better conditions and fairer compensation.

The plight of factory workers, miners, and other laborers highlighted the need for organized efforts to articulate their grievances against employers who wielded significant power and influence without regard for the well-being of their employees. By coming together through unions, workers sought to leverage their collective strength, advocating for increased wages and safer working conditions, which were essential for their survival and dignity.

Other choices, while relevant to labor issues, were not the primary focus during the Gilded Age. Negotiating stock offers, establishing retirement plans, and creating new job opportunities became more prominent themes in later periods as labor movements evolved and worker rights gained more recognition. However, during the Gilded Age, it was the immediate concerns regarding wages and working conditions that dominated the labor movement and collective bargaining efforts.