Labor Unions
Purpose of a Union Protect Rights of Workers!!! 1900 – average worker worked 60 hours/week Earning 22 cents an hour
Why were unions created?
Why were they created? To protect against: Long Hours Low Pay Unsafe working conditions Child Labor Unsanitary work conditions
Why were they created? To gain and advocate for: Equal pay Healthcare Benefits
Types of Workers Craft worker - Special skills and training Ex: machinists, glass blowers Common Laborer – few skills thus lower wages 1st to form unions called trade unions (shared same ‘trade’ or skill
How Industry Can Oppose Unions?
Industry Opposition How they opposed Contracts Blacklist Lockout Scabs
Why were some Americans suspicious of unions?
Many associated unions with radical ideas like communism Feared Marxist idea of workers revolt to create a socialist society
Knights of Labor 1st Nationwide industrial union Goals: 8 hour workday End child labor Equal pay for women Gov’t owned railroad Terminate contract system Worker owned factories
Knights of Labor continued Leadership Approach to Labor Issues Terrence Powderly Arbitration – process in which 3rd party helps workers and employers reach an agreement Boycott Opposed Strikes Who they represent? Unskilled workers Open to African Americans and women
American Federation of Labor Goals Higher wages Better working conditions 8 hour work day Convince companies to recognize unions and allow to collectively bargain Closed shops – only hire union members
AFL Continued Leadership Approach to Labor Issues Led by Samuel Gompers Who they represent? Trade Union Skilled workers White males Preferred negotiation over strike
Industrial Workers of the World Goals: Workers organize as a class Promote worker solidarity Overthrow employing class
IWW continued Leadership: Who they represent? Eugene Debs Who they represent? Skilled and unskilled workers All workers (all races and genders) Approach to Labor Issues: Strikes to overthrow wage system
Cons Pros
Pros Protects workers Safer working conditions Fair Pay / Higher wages Benefits ie: Healthcare, maternity leave Protects against unjustified firing Fewer monopolies and trusts Improves communication b/w workers and owners
Cons Union demands like higher wages may have a negative effect on the economy More difficult to fire ill-equipped workers Strikes could get violent
Great Railroad Strike Who? Railroad workers from the Baltimore and Ohio Railway Where? Railways in St. Louis, Pittsburg, New York, Chicago, Baltimore Why? B & O announced it was cutting wages for the 3rd time
Great Railroad Strike Railway workers in West Virginia blocked tracks Smashed tracks, blocked rail service, federal troops sent in to keep order 12 days of fighting to restore order 100 dead $10 million rail damage Significance: Showed Americans that their needed to be more peaceful ways to settle labor disputes
Haymarket Riot Who? Knights of Labor Where? Chicago Why? Nationwide strike for 8 hour workday; Knights of Labor led march through Chicago Police intervened to stop fight at picket line
Haymarket Riot Police killed 4 Anarchists group organized meeting to protest killings Police moved in to keep order Bomb thrown killing officer Workers shot back 100 killed or injured 8 people arrested and convicted of bombing Weak evidence but 4 executed Significance: one man arrested was a member of Knights of Labor so it hurt their reputation People associated unions with radicals
Pullman Strike Who? American Railway Union Where? Pullman, IL Leader – Eugene Debs Where? Pullman, IL Near Chicago Why started? Owner George Pullman required workers to live in his town and buy goods from company store. He laid off workers and slashed wages
Pullman Strike continued Workers could not afford high prices at company stores Workers went on strike American Railway Union members nationwide refused to handle Pullman cars Railway managers arranged to have mail cars attached to Pullman cars President Cleveland sent in troops to keep mail running
Pullman continued Injunction (court order) ordered to keep mail going and required workers to handle cars Supreme Court upheld injunction Significance: Gave business owners powerful tool to deal with labor unrest Injunction used to stop boycott or strike
Homestead Strike Who? Amalgamated association of Iron, Steel, and Tin workers union vs. Carnegie Steel works Where? Homestead, PA Why? Steel owners wanted to cut wages by 20% and locked employees out
Homestead Strike Strikers stood guard outside of plant Frick brought in private army called Pinkertons Gunfire erupted leaving 3 Pinkertons and 9 workers dead Governor ordered militia in to protect plant and strikebreakers Significance? Strike leaders charged with murder – not convicted All strike leaders blacklisted Unions swept out of most steel mills in Pittsburg