Question

Early unions attempted to provide:

increased pay
shorter hours
retirement funds
small-business loans

Answer 1

Correct: increased pay and shorter hours — and often mutual‑aid benefits (sickness, disability, funeral and later some pension/retirement benefits) — but not small‑business loans.

Explanation: early trade unions chiefly pushed for higher wages and fewer hours (e.g., the 8‑hour movement). Many also ran benefit funds for sick pay, funeral expenses, and eventually pensions for members. Providing small‑business loans was not a typical union function; credit cooperatives or fraternal societies were more likely to offer that.