Big Business and Labor The Workplace, Strikes, and the Rise of Labor Unions
Monopolies - exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices
Sherman Anti-Trust Act Tried to regulate anything that created market monopolies by outlawing any companies that interfered with the governments ability to regulate interstate commerce.
The Work Force Immigrants Women Children
Piece work Paying factory workers for each finished product, rather than by a salary or hourly wage
Sweat shop Long Hours, low wages, unsafe conditions
Division of labor Breaking down jobs into small, simple, repetitive (and boring) parts
The Work Environment Dirty Dangerous Long Hours
Children at Work Jacob Riis Work was very dangerous for kids Dirty work environment led to health problems for kids
Kids couldn’t attend school Families needed the money Kids were paid less
Growing Gulf Between the Rich and the Poor Socialism – redistribution of wealth
Rise of Labor Unions Knights of Labor – Skilled and Un-skilled Workers
American Federation of Labor (AFL) Led by Samual Gompers No Blacks or Women group of smaller craft unions, only allowed skilled labor
Wobblies – International Workers of the World, unskilled labor only
Eugene V. Debs – anti-violence labor activist Spent time in prison for his roll in the Pullman strike Later became a socialist Ran for President 5 times!
Reactions Firing, forbidding, yellow dog contracts, refusing collective bargaining, refusing to recognize
Railroad Strike of 1877 Prompted by wage cuts and increased safety hazards Workers respond with violence Rutherford B Hays sends in Federal Troops
Haymarket Riot - 1886 Protest for an 8 hour day SCABS VS STRIKERS Anarchists – gave speeches against “factory lords” Violence erupts, strikers and police are killed 8 Anarchists are arrested, and four are hung
Homestead Strike – 1892 Strikers vs. Wage cuts in a Carnegie owned steel mill Carnegie’s 2nd in Command cuts wages while Carnegie is out of the country
US Steel calls in the Pinkertons, a shootout ensues
Public sympathize with the strikers until the anarchists arrive and attempt to assassinate Frick The public begins to associate unions and strike with anarchists and violence
Pullman Strike – 1894 Pullman built a model city to attract the best workers Wage cuts lead to protest Strikes spread to the whole nation, disrupting the mail service
Pullman appeals to the Federal Government for help Government helps because the strikers are interfering with the mail. This sets the pattern of government response to strikes for years to come.