Answer: the right to bargain collectively
Explanation: Labor organizers believed that the right to bargain collectively was necessary for industrial workers to gain wage increases.
Collective bargaining allows workers to negotiate with employers as a group, giving them more leverage to demand better wages, benefits, and working conditions. By forming unions and collectively bargaining, workers can advocate for fair wages and improved working conditions.
Therefore, among the options provided:
- mandatory union participation: While some labor organizers may support union participation, it is not the primary factor for gaining wage increases.
- government price controls: This is not directly related to workers gaining wage increases through negotiations.
- minimum wage laws: While important for ensuring a baseline level of pay, it does not address the collective bargaining aspect.
The correct answer is:
- the right to bargain collectively.