Workers have rights too!

         By many years, worker claiming some sort of right have attempted to pursue their interests. In the past during the middle ages, the Peasants' Revolt in England expressed demand for better wages and working conditions.  English peasants fought against the enclosure movement, which took traditionally communal lands and made them private.

        The modern concept of labor rights dates to the 19th century after the creation of labor unions following the industrialization processes.  Karl Marx stands out as one of the most prominent and earliest advocates to the workers’ rights. His theory was focused on labor issues and advocates his economic system of socialism, a society which would be ruled by the workers. Recent workers rights advocacy has focused on the particular role, exploitation, and needs of women workers etc.

         The International Labour Organization was formed in 1919 as part of the League of Nations to protect workers’ rights. This Organization (ILO) later became part of the United Nations. The UN itself backed workers rights by incorporating two articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The articles 23 and 24. During the Progressive Era the United States began workplace reforms, which received publicity boosts from Upton Sinclair's he Jungle and events such as the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

http://www.adb.org/Documents/Handbooks/Core-Labor-Standards/default.asp
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm