Solutions to Industrial Revolution: Labor Unions????

Solutions to Solutions to Industrial Industrial

Revolution:Revolution:

Labor Unions????Labor Unions????

The Goal of the Labor The Goal of the Labor UnionUnion

To negotiate with business To negotiate with business owners/leaders better wages, owners/leaders better wages, benefits and working conditions. benefits and working conditions.

If negotiation does not work, take If negotiation does not work, take more action: slow downs, walk outs, more action: slow downs, walk outs, strikes strikes

Hundreds of male and female Hundreds of male and female Shirtwaist strikers march to City Hall. Shirtwaist strikers march to City Hall.

Placard says "Union Contract Placard says "Union Contract

[illegible]".[illegible]".

Female Shirtwaist makers hold Female Shirtwaist makers hold signs that read "Workhouse signs that read "Workhouse

Prisoner."Prisoner."

Textile strikers in Lawrence, Textile strikers in Lawrence, MA, gather near the railroad MA, gather near the railroad

trackstracks

Famous Famous Strikes and Riots:Strikes and Riots:The Great Railroad StrikeThe Great Railroad Strike

After cutting wages, workers went on strike After cutting wages, workers went on strike across East Coast across East Coast led to Riots led to Riots

President Hayes called in state militias which President Hayes called in state militias which caused problems caused problems led to over 100 dead before led to over 100 dead before strike ended strike ended

Result: Result: – Weakened railroad unionsWeakened railroad unions– Damaged reputation of labor unions because of the Damaged reputation of labor unions because of the

disruption and failure.disruption and failure.– 10%, strikers destroyed equipment, rioted in the streets. 10%, strikers destroyed equipment, rioted in the streets.

The Great Railroad Strike of The Great Railroad Strike of 18771877

The Great Railroad Strike of The Great Railroad Strike of 18771877

AFL was demanding a 8hr workday for all AFL was demanding a 8hr workday for all Employers, and if not done by May 1, 1886, called Employers, and if not done by May 1, 1886, called for a general strikefor a general strike

Police harassment of workers/strikers killed 4 Police harassment of workers/strikers killed 4 strikers the day before, called for a meeting in strikers the day before, called for a meeting in Haymarket SquareHaymarket Square

Police ordered people to disperse, bomb was Police ordered people to disperse, bomb was thrown (killed 6 officers, 67 injured)thrown (killed 6 officers, 67 injured)

8 anarchists convicted of murder, unjust trial, 8 anarchists convicted of murder, unjust trial, they were scapegoatsthey were scapegoats– 7 sentenced to death7 sentenced to death 1 suicide, 4 executed, 2 terms to 1 suicide, 4 executed, 2 terms to

life in prisonlife in prison

Famous Famous Strikes and Riots:Strikes and Riots:The Haymarket Square RiotThe Haymarket Square Riot

Haymarket Square RiotHaymarket Square Riot

Members of AAISW (Iron & Steel Workers union) very skilled workers, in high Members of AAISW (Iron & Steel Workers union) very skilled workers, in high demand by employers, so they held some degree of power in the workplacedemand by employers, so they held some degree of power in the workplace

Employers often resented the control the laborers hadEmployers often resented the control the laborers had

Mid-1880s, steel industry had new production methods, which reduced Mid-1880s, steel industry had new production methods, which reduced companies’ dependence on skilled laborcompanies’ dependence on skilled labor

Carnegie decided AAISW in Homestead steel plant had to go and other plants.Carnegie decided AAISW in Homestead steel plant had to go and other plants.

Carnegie and managers repeatedly cut wages, union acceptedCarnegie and managers repeatedly cut wages, union accepted

After wage cut after wage cut, AAISW called for a strike, head of homestead After wage cut after wage cut, AAISW called for a strike, head of homestead Henry Clay Frick called for 300 Pinkertons guards (strikebreakers)Henry Clay Frick called for 300 Pinkertons guards (strikebreakers)

Battle between strikers and Pinkertons, 3 guards, 10 strikers died, guards Battle between strikers and Pinkertons, 3 guards, 10 strikers died, guards surrendered, but company called in PA National Guard (8.000 troops)surrendered, but company called in PA National Guard (8.000 troops)

Public turned against strikers after Frick assassination attemptPublic turned against strikers after Frick assassination attempt

9. AAISW failed in its attempt, membership declined to nothing9. AAISW failed in its attempt, membership declined to nothing

The Homestead StrikeThe Homestead Strike

The Homestead StrikeThe Homestead Strike

Pullman Palace Car Company built/repaired at company in Pullman, Pullman Palace Car Company built/repaired at company in Pullman, ChicagoChicago

Company built town of Pullman so workers could rent homes from Company built town of Pullman so workers could rent homes from owner, George M. Pullmanowner, George M. Pullman

Rents high, and in 1893 wages slashed due to the Panic of 1893 Rents high, and in 1893 wages slashed due to the Panic of 1893 (depression), but Pullman refused to lower rents(depression), but Pullman refused to lower rents

Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs, within days thousands Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs, within days thousands of railroad workers in 27 states/territories went on strike = no of railroad workers in 27 states/territories went on strike = no transportation from Chicago to West Coasttransportation from Chicago to West Coast

Most state governors supported Business side, but Ill. Governor Peter Most state governors supported Business side, but Ill. Governor Peter Aletgeld was sympathetic towards workers and did not send state Aletgeld was sympathetic towards workers and did not send state militiamilitia

Others asked Fed. Gov to send militia, Cleveland disliked unions and Others asked Fed. Gov to send militia, Cleveland disliked unions and sent troopssent troops

Union leaders (Eugene V. Debs) were arrested and imprisoned. The Union leaders (Eugene V. Debs) were arrested and imprisoned. The strike collapsed.strike collapsed.

The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike

The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike

Three Major Labor UnionsThree Major Labor Unions

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor

American Federation of Laborers American Federation of Laborers (AFL)(AFL)

WOBBLIESWOBBLIES

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor Founded by Uriah S. Stephens Founded by Uriah S. Stephens membership opened to membership opened to

all workers, and most business & professional people. all workers, and most business & professional people. Excluded: lawyers, bankers, liquor dealers, and Excluded: lawyers, bankers, liquor dealers, and professional gamblers.professional gamblers.

Actually WELCOMED women!Actually WELCOMED women!

Not really centralized, met locallyNot really centralized, met locally

Philosophy: 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, Philosophy: 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, wanted long range reform to replace the “wage system” wanted long range reform to replace the “wage system” with a “cooperative system” in which workers themselves with a “cooperative system” in which workers themselves control a large part of the economy.control a large part of the economy.

Secret organization Secret organization Late 1870s order became public Late 1870s order became public and grew to 700,000 members by 1886.and grew to 700,000 members by 1886.

Too big to control Too big to control local chapters launched series of local chapters launched series of strikes that discredited the Union. 1890 membership strikes that discredited the Union. 1890 membership shrunk to 100,000. A few years later, disappeared.shrunk to 100,000. A few years later, disappeared.

American Federation of American Federation of Laborers (AFL)Laborers (AFL)

Founded by Samuel GompersFounded by Samuel Gompers

Rejected the AFL’s idea of one labor union for everyone, Rejected the AFL’s idea of one labor union for everyone, instead was an association of essentially autonomous craft instead was an association of essentially autonomous craft unions and represented mainly skilled workers.unions and represented mainly skilled workers.

Generally hostile to organizing unskilled workersGenerally hostile to organizing unskilled workers

FL against women in the workforce all together because they FL against women in the workforce all together because they felt women should be at home, but they did seek equal pay felt women should be at home, but they did seek equal pay for those women who did work and sought women for those women who did work and sought women organizers for industries predominated by women.organizers for industries predominated by women.

Philosophy: Accept capitalism, but secure for the workers a Philosophy: Accept capitalism, but secure for the workers a greater share of capitalism’s material rewards. Objected greater share of capitalism’s material rewards. Objected fundamental economic reform, government protection of fundamental economic reform, government protection of workers. Focused instead on Labor/Management workers. Focused instead on Labor/Management relationships. Better Wages, hours, and working conditions relationships. Better Wages, hours, and working conditions through collective bargaining, but will use strikes if through collective bargaining, but will use strikes if necessary.necessary.

WOBBLIESWOBBLIES

Industrial Workers of the World Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)(IWW)

Never more than Never more than 100,000100,000 members members

Conducted numerous strikes, many Conducted numerous strikes, many with bloodshed!with bloodshed!

Labor’s WeaknessesLabor’s Weaknesses Late 19th century, workers made few gains, suffered Late 19th century, workers made few gains, suffered

many lossesmany losses

Wages rose hardly at all, could not keep up w/ rising Wages rose hardly at all, could not keep up w/ rising cost of livingcost of living

Reason for Failures: principal labor organizations Reason for Failures: principal labor organizations represented only a small percentage of the industrial represented only a small percentage of the industrial work force. ONLY work force. ONLY 4%4% of industrial workers belonged to of industrial workers belonged to a Union in 1900.a Union in 1900.

2 reasons for not organizing:2 reasons for not organizing:– Immigrants usually only intended to make some money in Immigrants usually only intended to make some money in

America and then return homeAmerica and then return home– Other American workers believed they were not going to be part Other American workers believed they were not going to be part

of a permanent working class and that they or their children of a permanent working class and that they or their children would become a higher position in society.would become a higher position in society.

Dislike for Labor UnionsDislike for Labor Unions

Often hard to Unionize Often hard to Unionize

If wide unemployment, people rather low If wide unemployment, people rather low paying jobs than no jobspaying jobs than no jobs

resentment of unions by middle class resentment of unions by middle class believed radical workers to be at heart of all believed radical workers to be at heart of all problemsproblems