Labor Unions & Strikes United States History

Progress and Progressivism Progress – To move forward, make better Progressivism: a social movement and grew into a political movement. The early progressives rejected Social Darwinism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubIWyT7nGdU

Solving Problems: Working Conditions Labor Union: An organized association of workers formed to protect and further their RIGHTS and INTERESTS Strikes: A group, rallying and not going to work. Demanding better conditions from their bosses. Collective bargaining- the ability for laborers to work together to ensure their interests; “Strength in numbers”

Knights of Labor First important national union Wanted to organize ALL workers: skilled, unskilled and of all backgrounds (no racial restrictions) Set the example: negotiate, then strike if needed Goals: 8 hour day; end of child labor Lost influence after violent strikes Wanted to pass legislation

Other Unions American Federation of Labor (AFL): Smaller local unions with a national organization Wages, hours, conditions Strikes, collective bargaining Excluded African-Americans Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Wanted to abolish the wage system Socialism (Wobblies) Start a Revolution

Labor Union Leaders – Samuel Gompers London Immigrant At age 10, worked as a cigar maker Moves to US – becomes the Cigar Workers Union President Wants to combine unions all together FOUNDED AMERICAN FEDERATON OF LABOR CRAFT UNION 1 million members

Labor Union Leaders – Eugene V Debs American Socialist Party At age 15, was a railroad fireman Started Brotherhood of LocoFiremen Union Combined unions together…ALL RAILROAD WORKERS Led PULLMAN STRIKE Runs for President as Communist Party

Labor Union Leaders – Mary “Mother” Jones Irish Immigrant Worked for the KNIGHTS OF LABOR Was considered “The most dangerous woman” because she was so influential “I’m a Humanitarian worker, not a hell-raiser” Involved in the Haymarket Affair

Haymarket Affair You may work in groups of up to three. You all must work on the same document together, but you may split up who is looking for what information from the article. In the Red Book, use pages 70-71 to answer question 1 and 1a in your note sheet. Use pages 63-69 for question 2-2d

How did Employers fight against Unions? No Union Meetings Union organizers fired Blacklisting Would not bargain collectively Strikes met with violence

Collective Bargaining a process of negotiation between employees and a group of employers aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries and other benefits. Let’s try it out!!

Were Unions Effective? Yes: EVENTUALLY created minimum wage and child labor laws (not until 1930s+) No: Employers ignored them and found loopholes.

Writing Focus: Great Claim Statements What do we need a good claim statement (thesis)? What makes a claim statement great? The Formula [My argument is this], because A , B , C . Ex. “Mrs. Morris is the greatest teacher ever, because she is super smart, hilarious, and easy to understand.” [A+] Your Prompt: Were labor unions effective at protecting workers’ rights?

Writing Focus: Counterclaims A stance that someone could take in response to the prompt that isn’t the stance YOU are taking Doesn’t have to be the exact opposite Needs to be something that people would actually believe Where should it go?