When searching for a modern day union, you first need to check its history page to find out when it began. Generally, unions as we know them, did not begin until the Industrial Age brought machines in to replace the hand-skilled workers. Thus, employee safety became increasingly important. In 1870 one of my "child" ancestor's lost an arm, after he was ordered by the company owner to replace a machine's belt; there was no union to support him---there were only lawsuits to pursue. If you think of the most popular commodities of the day: tobacco, newspapers, coal and clothing production, for example, you are more apt to find unions that began earlier. Samuel Gompers was a leader in the tobacco union. As commodities increased, and purchasing power of the lower and middle classes improved, unions gained in popularity and power. Since male wage earners were more regarded than female workers, the earlier unions were more inclined to protect male related occupations. There were two major events in NYC's history that affected the formation of unions, and the insurance business. The fire at sea and sinking of the General Slocum on June 15, 1904, was NYC's greatest loss of lives in a disaster, until the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of March 25, 1911, NYC's worst industrial tragedy, sparked the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (beg 1900 NYC) to revolt and draw attention to protecting female employees. @BarbN of NYC--8/8/2008 ************** Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017 )