What gains were made by working class communities in the Progressive Era?

The main gains that were made by the working class during
this era came in the form of new governmental protections that were meant to prevent
some of the worst abuses of the previous years.  These abuses were brought to the
public's attention by the muckrakers and this attention helped lead to government
intervention.

For example, early in the Progressive Era,
Theodore Roosevelt introduced his "Square Deal" for labor.  Among other things, he
threatened to seize mines when employers would not bargain with miners' unions.  This
was the first time the government had actually moved to help unions against the
employers.  As another example, Congress passed a law in 1916 restricting child labor
and another one forcing railroads to give their employees 8-hour days with extra pay if
they had to work overtime.

Governmental interventions like
these helped improve the lives of the working class during the Progressive
Era.