What were pay calls in the 19th century?

In the 19th century, pay calls were requests made by workers, particularly in industries such as mining and textiles, to receive their wages at regular intervals rather than waiting for longer pay periods. These calls often arose from the financial difficulties faced by laborers, who needed more frequent access to their earnings to manage daily expenses. The practice sometimes led to strikes or protests when employers resisted accommodating these requests. Overall, pay calls highlighted the growing demand for fair labor practices and better working conditions during that era.