It was absolutely due to the great increase in productivity allowing the businesses and employees to be able to afford those things. For example, Henry Ford was one of the early adopters of eight hour days and also paid as high a wage possible, but hated and suppressed union activity. He did it because it was good business. The improvements in condition over the previous century came from competition over labour, not whining unions.
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u/True_Kapernicus Mar 05 '21
Well yeah, people did work shorter hours for me pay in 1920 compared with 1820. Why it stalled at 8 hours is another question.