Labor Force Distribution

The Worker – Immigrants The Worker – Immigrants FarmersFarmers –Depression, Debt, Crop Prices Irish and German (Pre 1880s )Irish and German (Pre 1880s ) –“Old Immigrants” –Potato Famine, Jobs, Instable Govt Eastern/Southern Europeans (Post 1880’s)Eastern/Southern Europeans (Post 1880’s) –“New Immigrants” –Religious, Racial, Political Persecution –Labor Contract Laws Free Passage  Deducted from paycheck Free Passage  Deducted from paycheck Why do Industrialists encourage Immigration? Why do Industrialists encourage Immigration? What is this going to lead to? What is this going to lead to?

The Changing American Labor Force

The Worker – The Issues Low IncomeLow Income –Avg. $450/yr  “Poor Line” $600/yr –Women paid 20% less than men Harsh ConditionsHarsh Conditions –10-12hrs/6 days per week –Little to no safety regulations Child LaborChild Labor –15% of kids between yrs work 60% in Agriculture60% in Agriculture –Early Child Labor Laws Only set minimum of 12yrsOnly set minimum of 12yrs Usually IgnoredUsually Ignored

Child Labor

“Galley Labor”

Labor Unrest:

Emerging Unionism Little success in early 19 th c.Little success in early 19 th c. Craft UnionsCraft Unions –Grouped by specific skills –Too small and often isolated National UnionsNational Unions –Often Trade Unions –Begin to grow in late 19 th c. –Often lacked support due to violence

The Molly Maguires (1875) James McParland “Pinkerton” Secret organization of minersSecret organization of miners Known for violent tactics against Industrialists and managementKnown for violent tactics against Industrialists and management Exposed by James McParlandExposed by James McParland

The Corporate “Bully-Boys”: Pinkerton Agents Private “security” agencyPrivate “security” agency Used as spies within labor groupsUsed as spies within labor groups Often called in as “Strike Breakers”Often called in as “Strike Breakers”

Management vs. Labor “Tools” of Management “Tools” of Labor  “scabs”  P. R. campaign  Pinkertons  lockout  blacklisting  yellow-dog contracts  court injunctions  open shop  boycotts  sympathy demonstrations  informational picketing  closed shops  organized strikes  “wildcat” strikes

A Striker Confronts a SCAB!

Knights of Labor Terence V. Powderly Leader ( ) Uriah Stephens Founder (1869) Remember Me!

Knights of Labor (1869) Knights of Labor trade card Originally a secret organizationOriginally a secret organization Considered first “National” L. UnionConsidered first “National” L. Union 700,000 member at its peak (1886)700,000 member at its peak (1886) Rapidly declines due to violence and disorganizationRapidly declines due to violence and disorganization

Goals of the Knights of Labor ù Eight-hour workday. ù Workers’ cooperatives. - Worker-owned factories. ù Abolition of child and prison labor. ù Increased circulation of greenbacks. ù Equal pay for men and women. ù Safety codes in the workplace. ù Prohibition of “contract labor”. ù Supported Chinese Exclusion

The American Federation of Labor: 1886 Samuel Gompers Remember Me Too! Emerged out of dispute in K of LEmerged out of dispute in K of L Organization made up of Craft UnionsOrganization made up of Craft Unions Focused on Wages, Hours, & ConditionsFocused on Wages, Hours, & Conditions Also sees decline and lack of support due to violence but remained active until 1955Also sees decline and lack of support due to violence but remained active until 1955

How the AF of L Would Help the Workers ù Catered to the skilled worker. ù Represented workers in matters of national legislation. ù Maintained a national strike fund. ù Evangelized the cause of unionism. ù Prevented disputes among the many craft unions. ù Mediated disputes between management and labor. ù Pushed for closed shops.

Major Labor Disputes and Violence 1877 – Great Railroad Strike1877 – Great Railroad Strike 1886 – Haymarket Riot1886 – Haymarket Riot 1892 – Homestead Strike1892 – Homestead Strike 1894 – Pullman Strike1894 – Pullman Strike

The Great Railroad Strike (1877) Legacy: First major national labor conflict

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 Cause: 10% Wage CutsCause: 10% Wage Cuts Strikes stretch from Baltimore to St. LouisStrikes stretch from Baltimore to St. Louis Rioting in major citiesRioting in major cities Destroyed EquipmentDestroyed Equipment Rutherford B Hayes forced to call on state and federal troops to suppress troopsRutherford B Hayes forced to call on state and federal troops to suppress troops Result: 100 people deadResult: 100 people dead

The Tournament of Today: A Set-to Between Labor and Monopoly

Haymarket Riot (1886) Legacy: Negative/violent view on Labor Unions.

Haymarket Riots Cause: K of L and AFL Call for 8 Hour workdayCause: K of L and AFL Call for 8 Hour workday Peaceful strike turned violent when police fired on the crowd killing 2 strikersPeaceful strike turned violent when police fired on the crowd killing 2 strikers Next Day: Strikers and Anarchists rally to protest killingsNext Day: Strikers and Anarchists rally to protest killings 7 police officers killed and 67 wounded by dynamite bomb after harassing strikers7 police officers killed and 67 wounded by dynamite bomb after harassing strikers Several strikers killed in the following daysSeveral strikers killed in the following days Result: Society demands retribution for killed OfficersResult: Society demands retribution for killed Officers 8 “anarchists” arrested for murders8 “anarchists” arrested for murders - 4 executed, 1 suicide, 3 later pardoned Anarchy and labor unions seen as similar – Red Scare?Anarchy and labor unions seen as similar – Red Scare?

Governor John Peter Altgeld

Homestead Steel Strike (1892) The Amalgamated Association of Iron & Steel Workers Homestead Steel Works Legacy: One of the largest labor disputes ever

Homestead Strike Cause: Carnegie Steel innovations put large number of skilled steel workers out of jobsCause: Carnegie Steel innovations put large number of skilled steel workers out of jobs Carnegie orders Henry Clay Frick to cut wages in hope of forcing skilled workers to quit.Carnegie orders Henry Clay Frick to cut wages in hope of forcing skilled workers to quit. 300 Pinkertons called in to break strike300 Pinkertons called in to break strike AA strikers refuse to let strike breakers through… Battle ensuesAA strikers refuse to let strike breakers through… Battle ensues Result: After 3 agents and 10 strikers are killed, Pinkertons retreatResult: After 3 agents and 10 strikers are killed, Pinkertons retreat Soon after, Pennsylvania calls in state militia to end the strike (4 months)Soon after, Pennsylvania calls in state militia to end the strike (4 months) AA gradually gives up.AA gradually gives up.

Big Corporate Profits!

Attempted Assassination! Henry Clay Frick Alexander Berkman

A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL

Pullman Cars A Pullman porter

The Pullman Strike of 1894 Legacy: Sets precedent of Federal Government involvement in breaking up strikes

Pullman Strike Cause: 25% wage cuts and high rentCause: 25% wage cuts and high rent Pullman Company gains support of American Railway Union (Led by Eugene Debs)Pullman Company gains support of American Railway Union (Led by Eugene Debs) Strike centralized outside of Chicago but stretches across 27 statesStrike centralized outside of Chicago but stretches across 27 states Result: Debs and several strike leaders arrested after Federal troops are called inResult: Debs and several strike leaders arrested after Federal troops are called in Grover Cleveland claimed strike prevented the delivering of mail and was therefore a federal crimeGrover Cleveland claimed strike prevented the delivering of mail and was therefore a federal crime

President Grover Cleveland If it takes the entire army and navy to deliver a postal card in Chicago, that card will be delivered!

The Pullman Strike of 1894 Government by injunction!

Legacy of 19 th Century Labor Movement PositivesPositives –8 Hour workday for government workers –Abolition of Contract Labor –Some child labor laws –Some workers compensation

Legacy of 19 th Century Labor Movement NegativesNegatives –Overall, little effectiveness Many historians claim workers have less rights in 1900 than they did in 1860Many historians claim workers have less rights in 1900 than they did in 1860 –Labor Unions earn negative/violent name in middle and upper class America Related to Anarchy and Socialism (Communism)Related to Anarchy and Socialism (Communism) Why?Why? –Majority of workers not in (not allowed in) major unions Immigrants, African Americans, Children, WomenImmigrants, African Americans, Children, Women –Growing Corporations = Too much $ and power

Workers Benefits Today

The Rise & Decline of Organized Labor

Right-to-Work States Today Right to Work Non-Right to Work