Labor Unions & Strikes Aim: How does the rise of labor unions better the working conditions in the new industrialized America?

Wobblies View of the World How do Wobblies view the capitalist economic system?

Less Radical—Labor Unions Unions: improve working conditions (not overthrow the system) Collective Bargaining Strikes (last resort) Best—national strike Why was this appealing to workers?

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

Other Unions American Federation of Labor (AFL): Smaller local unions with a national organization Wages, hours, conditions Strikes, collective bargaining Barred African-Americans Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Wobblies Socialists

Employers’ Reaction No Union Meetings Union organizers fired Blacklisting Yellow Dog contracts (Worker will not participate in a union) Would not bargain collectively Strikes met with violence

The Great Strikes Haymarket Riot (1896)—8 hour workday (national strike); scabs hired in Chicago (fights); rally—bombing & gunfight btw. Police & strikers; Ill. Law: help with murder, then you are a murderer: 4 anarchists hanged for murder (one blew himself up in prison). Never determined who threw the bomb. Homestead Strike (1892)—Carnegie Steelworkers called a strike (factory cut their wages) & were fired; management sent in “private” police force (fight with deaths); strike called off Pullman Strike (1894): Company town; wages cut 25% (Panic of 1893); food prices in town NOT cut; Pullman fired three negotiators; strike; al RR traffic halted; strike ordered illegal because mail couldn’t get through

Collective Bargaining Activity Miss. Zizzo & Mr. Ardis do not want these violent strikes to occur in our classroom. We have decided to listen to negotiations to better YOUR working environment. Take the role of a labor union and come up with a fair deal to present to us! We will decide which deal is the fairest after hearing all proposals.

Aim: How does the rise of labor unions better the working conditions in the new industrialized America? Do now: Sit in groups from yesterday. Take out “rough draft” of demands. Make sure you have a marker and a piece of chart paper.

Agenda For Today and Tomorrow Get into groups from yesterday Discuss and assign group roles Generate a preamble and list of demands for your group Present initial list of demands to the class Class vote on demands Negotiations with management over final demands Generate a final contract Group work rubric

Group Roles Negotiator: You will represent your group during negotiations with management (teachers). You must be able to speak clearly on the issues with minimal notes and preparation Union Leader: You will facilitate and organize your groups discussion. You must be able to focus on the task and take the job seriously. You must be able to keep team members on task. Recorder: You will be responsible for recording your groups demands. Presenters: You will present your groups initial demands to the class to be voted on.