On August 20, 1866, the National Labor Union made up of skilled and unskilled workers, farmers and reformers was formed and called on Congress to order an eight-hour workday. The National Labor Union was created to pressure COngress to make labor law reforms. The UNion failed to persuade Congress to Shorten the workday and the labor organization itself dissolved in 1873. However, its efforts heightened public awareness of labor issues and increased public support for labor reform in the 1870s and 1880s.