1. The first recorded unions were in ancient Egypt, where laborers in various industries organized to protect their rights and improve working conditions. 2. The Song of Labor, an ancient Sumerian text, dating to around 1800 BC, describes stonecutters going on strike to protest economic exploitation. 3. The College of Artisans, founded in ancient Rome around 500 BCE, was a labor guild advocating for workers' rights, including fair pay and improved working conditions.