The “New Unionism” I. Overview II. Radical Unions A. IWW B. Garment Workers III. Industrial Strikes, 1909-1916 A. Steel B. Textile C. Garment IV. Explaining outcomes A. Union organization B. Public opinion C. Employers D. Institutionalism
Dec 21, 2015
The “New Unionism”I. OverviewII. Radical Unions
A. IWWB. Garment Workers
III. Industrial Strikes, 1909-1916A. SteelB. TextileC. Garment
IV. Explaining outcomesA. Union organizationB. Public opinionC. EmployersD. Institutionalism
Overview
• Workers– Immigrants,
blacks, & women
• Jobs– Semi-skilled
factory labor
• Units– Industrial
unions
Striking laundry workers, Chicago, 1903
IWW
• Western Federation of Miners
• IWW founded 1905 as response to AFL
• SyndicalismWFM leaders, Pettibone, Haywood, and Moyer, on trial, 1907
Garment Workers• Workers
– Immigrants• Eastern European
Jews• Lithuanians• Italians
– Women
• Unions– International
Ladies Garment Workers
– United Garment Workers
Steel Members of PA constabulary, 1909
“Bloody corner”McKee Rocks, PA, 1909
↓
Textile
• Lawrence
• Lowell
• Patterson
Clothing• 1909
– 20K shirtwaist workers
• 1910– 60K NYC
cloak-makers
– 40K in Chicago
• 1911– 150K
workersRochester, 1913
OrganizationGarment
workers:
• Avoid factionalism– Amalgamat
ed
• Retain ties to AFL establishment
Chicago garment workers in Labor Day parade, 1915
Public Opinion
• Machismo v. Maternalism
• Radical Chic v. Middle-class Morality
• Triangle Fire, 1911
Employers• Garment
manufacturers and retailers were often German Jews
• Heavily involved in reform movements
• Connection to workers creates sense of responsibility
Edward A. Filene
Institutionalism
• IWW Syndicalism
versus
• ACWA Brandeis-ism
ACWA members thank leader Sidney Hillman, 1915