Which of the following was a major goal of workers' trade unions during the industrial era?

Introduction / Context:
During the industrial era, especially in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, working conditions in factories were often harsh. Long working hours, low wages and unsafe environments led workers to form trade unions to protect their rights and improve their lives. This question focuses on one of the key practical demands that many trade unions around the world raised in their early struggles: reducing excessively long working hours.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is workers' trade unions in the industrial era.
• Options include union ownership, government ownership, a shorter workweek and broad government reform.
• We assume awareness that early trade unions mainly sought concrete improvements in working conditions.
• The question asks which option represents a typical union goal.

Concept / Approach:
Trade unions historically have had many demands, including better wages, safer conditions, job security and reasonable working hours. One famous slogan was “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest and eight hours for what we will,” which summarised the demand for a shorter workday and workweek. While some radical groups advocated full union or state ownership of businesses, mainstream trade unions often focused on achievable labour reforms like limiting working hours, introducing weekly rest days and regulating overtime. Therefore, a shorter and more humane workweek is a classic union goal that fits both history and exam expectations.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is about common goals of workers' unions, not about all possible political ideologies. Step 2: Recall that early trade unions fought for practical workplace reforms such as shorter hours, better wages and safer conditions. Step 3: Examine the options and see that “a shorter and more humane workweek” directly matches this historical struggle. Step 4: Recognise that union or government ownership of all businesses was not the primary or universal goal of most trade unions. Step 5: Select the option referring to a shorter workweek as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by thinking about labour movements worldwide, including the campaigns for the eight-hour day and five-day week, which are well-documented in labour history. Textbooks often highlight how workers protested against 12–16 hour workdays and demanded reduction of hours without loss of pay. These demands were central and realistic, unlike the more radical ideas of complete state or union ownership of all enterprises, which were limited to certain ideological movements rather than mainstream trade unionism.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Union ownership of all businesses: While some socialist or cooperative movements promoted such ideas, they were not the main or most common goal of ordinary trade unions.

Government ownership of every industry: This is associated more with socialist or communist ideology, not specifically with routine trade union demands in most countries.
A complete overhaul of government through political reform only: Trade unions sometimes support political reforms, but their core agenda has usually been workplace-related issues like wages and hours, not solely changing the government structure.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse trade unions with political parties or revolutionary groups and assume that their primary goal was to control or own all businesses. Others may focus too much on ideology and forget the concrete, day-to-day issues that workers faced. Remembering that unions grew out of workers' struggles for immediate improvements at the workplace helps avoid such misunderstandings.

Final Answer:
A major and very common goal of workers' trade unions was a shorter and more humane workweek for labourers.