Unions Chapter 14 Section 4

Working in US Factories Machines replaced skilled labor Unhealthy and dangerous Assembly line – monotonous Industrialism brought a dramatic rise in the standard of living Uneven division of income distributed b/w the wealthy and the working class led to resentment

Deflation Deflation – rise in the value of money Prices fell, which increased the buying power of the workers wages Wages at the same amount were worth more Companies cut wages to equal out, workers think companies want same work for less pay Workers decide they need to organize a union to improve their working conditions Bargain collectively Negotiate for higher wages Negotiate for better work conditions

Trade Unions Craft workers b/g to organize trade unions Craft workers People that had special skills and training Generally received higher wages Were more valued by factory owners b/c of their specific skills Machinists, iron molder, stonecutters, glassblowers, shoe makers, carpenters, etc Trade unions were limited to craft workers

Industrial Unions Industrial unions – united all craft workers and common laborers in a certain industry Employers generally regarded industrial unions as illegitimate Employers saw no reason to negotiate w/ industrial unions b/c they had no skills that made them a valuable group

Preventing Unions To prevent unions companies… Required workers to take oaths or sign contracts promising not to join a union Hired detectives to go undercover and identify union organizers If workers tried to organize a union or a strike they were fired and placed on a blacklist Blacklist – list of troublemakers Once blacklisted a laborer could only get a job by changing residence, trade, or his name

Preventing Unions If workers formed a union companies used a lockout to break it Lockout – locked workers out of the property and refused to pay them If the union called for a strike, the company would hire replacement workers – strikebreakers (scabs) Strikebreakers/scabs – workers that would take a job from a company when the company’s workers were on strike

Industrial Unions Knights of Labor – the first nationwide industrial union Demanded an 8 hour workday, equal pay for women, and abolition of child labor Wanted worker owned factories Were dedicated to arbitration A process where an impartial third party helps workers and management reach an agreement Most all large-scale industrial unions failed, including the Knights of Labor

Trade Unions American Federation of Labor (AFL) Over 20 of the nation’s trade unions merged into one union Led by Samuel Gompers Stayed out of politics, rejected socialist and communist ideas Fight for small gains (higher wages and better work conditions) Preferred to negotiation rather than strike

AFL Goals The AFL had 3 main goals… Tried to convince companies to recognize unions and to agree to collective bargaining Pushed for closed shops Companies could only hire union members It promoted an 8 hour workday The AFL was successful but most workers stayed away from unions

Women During This Time Many unions excluded women Women were always paid less than men Women’s Trade Union League – first national association dedicated to promoting women’s labor issues The WTUL wanted… Abolishment of child labor An 8 hour work day The creation of a minimum wage End evening work for women