Opposition to UnionsOpposition to Unions  There were no laws giving workers the right to organize or requiring owners to negotiate with them, leaving workers who wanted to organize a union with major problems.  Courts often ruled strikes as a conspiracy and labor leaders might be fined or jailed.

Opposition to UnionsOpposition to Unions  Unions were also seen as a threat to American institutions.  Ideas from Karl Marx, called Marxism, became very influential in Europe.  Marx believed that the basic force shaping capitalist society was the class struggle between workers and owners.  Workers would eventually revolt, seize control of the factories, and overthrow the government.

Opposition to UnionsOpposition to Unions  Marxist ideas came to America when thousands of European immigrants came to the U.S.  Since many Americans were already anti-immigrant, they became very suspicious of unions  This often led officials to us the courts, police, and army to crush strikes and break up unions.

The Struggle to OrganizeThe Struggle to Organize  In the 1830s, trade unions were formed to people with specific skills.  Employers were forced to negotiate with trade unions because they needed those people’s skills.  Industrial unions : united all craft workers and common laborers in a particular industry  Opposed by owners of large companies  Industrial unions rarely succeeded

The Struggle to OrganizeThe Struggle to Organize  Techniques used by companies to prevent unions forming:  Required workers to take oaths or sign contracts promising not to join a union  Hired detectives to identify union organizations  Workers who tried to organize a union were fired and placed on a blacklist  If blacklisted, laborers could only get a job by changing residence, trade, or his/her name

The Struggle to OrganizeThe Struggle to Organize  Union workers were also placed on a lockout  Locked out of the property and refused their pay  If a strike was called, employees would be replaced by strikebreakers (or scabs)  Confrontation with owners and the government often led to violence and bloodshed  The riot at Haymarket Square in Chicago led to the discrediting of the Knights of Labor (1 st nationwide industrial union)  The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Pullman Strike of 1894 both involved rail workers responding to wage cuts  The army was sent to restore order

The American Federation of Labor  Trade unions flourished in the late 1800s.  In 1886 the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed by delegates form over 20 of the nation’s trade unions.  Samuel Gompers was the first leader of the AFL.  His simple approach helped unions become accepted in American society.

American Federation of Labor  Gompers preferred to negotiate before starting a strike. His three main goals for the AFL were:  Convince companies to recognize unions and to agree to collective bargaining  Push for closed shops, or companies that only hired union members  Promote the 8-hour workday.

American Federation of Labor  The AFL had 500,000 members by 1900 and was the biggest union in the country.  AFL represented less than 15% of all non-farm workers  A vast majority of workers remained unorganized and unions were still weak

Working WomenWorking Women  Women made up more than 18% of the labor force by  1/3 rd worked as domestic servants  1/3 rd worked as teachers, nurses, sales clerks, and secretaries  1/3 rd employed in light industrial work  Many more worked in the garment industry and food processing plants

Working WomenWorking Women  Women were paid less than men, even if their performance was equal  Many unions (including AFL) excluded women because it was believed that all women had a man supporting her and that the men needed the higher wages  In 1903, Mary Kenney O’Sullivan and Leonora O’Reilly established the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL)  This became the first national trade association to promote women’s labor issues  WTUL pushed for the 8-hour workday, the creation of a minimum wage, an end to evening work, and the abolition of child labor

Working in the U.S.Working in the U.S.  Industrialization brought about a dramatic rise in the standard of living for Americans.  Real wages by the average worker rose about 50% between However, the division of workers between wealthy and working class caused resentment.

Working in the U.S.Working in the U.S.  Life for workers in industrial America was difficult.  Work was monotonous and repetitive  Working conditions were unhealthy and dangerous  Workers breathed in toxic fumes and heavy machines without safety devices caused many injuries.

References  Appleby, J., Brinkley, A., Broussard, A.S., McPherson, J.M., Ritchie, P.A. (2006) The American vision (pp ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.  Haymarket Flier retrieved from  AFL logo retrieved from label.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AFL- label.jpg  Girl worker at the Denomah Mills retrieved from  Assembly line photo retrieved from