What is the difference between a "guild" and a "labor union"?

shorthumbz

Guilds were a primarily phenomenon of of medieval times. They existed partly as a pathway to skilled crafts and professions through apprenticeships and controlled access to who actually did work projects. They often existed under the auspices of nobles and/or royalty. The merchant class of those times was comparatively small, not necessitating a large number of products requiring unskilled labor. As time passed trade unions grew up beginning in the 19th century to represent the increasing number of workers needed for the expansion of industry and the needs of the industrial revolution. As the uniions grew they attained political clout and strength through collective bargaining; eventually taking on some of the earlier trappings of the guilds such as meeting halls, access to training, and thresholds through which projects were obtained. http://www.helium.com/items/298816-comparing-medieval-guilds-to-the-modern-labor-movement Dec 07 12, 10:13 PM

euab

A labor union, is generally an unincorporated association, created to equalize the bargaining power between employers and employees as regards wages, hours, and terms of employment. While both federal and state statutes expressly legalize or sanction unions, the right to organize is a fundamental one, recognized as existing independently of legislation. http://definitions.uslegal.com/l/labor-unions/ A guild means : an association of craftsmen in a particular trade formed to protect mutual interests and maintain standards; a group of species that share a similar ecological niche by exploiting same resources in same way; a group of trades people made up of merchants, craftspeople, or artisans, particularly in the middle Ages; a society of a particular trade; a group of individuals who associate for a common purpose; a formal association of people with common interests. http://definitions.uslegal.com/g/guild/ Dec 08 12, 8:22 AM