WARM-UP Write what you’ve learned about industrial leaders of the time period (think Rockefeller, Carnegie…) Write what you’ve learned about industrial leaders of the time period (think Rockefeller, Carnegie…) Did they exploit workers? Did they exploit workers? How do you think workers would eventually react? How do you think workers would eventually react? What is a labor union? What is a labor union? What is a strike? What is a strike?

Getting started… Read your textbook from p Pay attention to the different labor unions and the strikes. Read your textbook from p Pay attention to the different labor unions and the strikes.

Labor Unions and Strikes

Five Major Labor Unions Knights of Labor Knights of Labor National Labor Union (NLU) National Labor Union (NLU) American Federation of Laborers (AFL) American Federation of Laborers (AFL) WOBBLIES (IWW) WOBBLIES (IWW) American Railway Union (ARU) American Railway Union (ARU)

Knights of Labor Founded by Uriah S. Stephens  membership opened to all workers, and most business & professional people. Excluded: lawyers, bankers, liquor dealers, and professional gamblers. Founded by Uriah S. Stephens  membership opened to all workers, and most business & professional people. Excluded: lawyers, bankers, liquor dealers, and professional gamblers. Actually WELCOMED women! Actually WELCOMED women! Not really centralized, met locally Not really centralized, met locally Philosophy: 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, wanted long range reform to replace the “wage system” with a “cooperative system” in which workers themselves control a large part of the economy. Philosophy: 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, wanted long range reform to replace the “wage system” with a “cooperative system” in which workers themselves control a large part of the economy. Secret organization  Late 1870s order became public and grew to 700,000 members by Secret organization  Late 1870s order became public and grew to 700,000 members by Too big to control  local chapters launched series of strikes that discredited the Union membership shrunk to 100,000. A few years later, disappeared. Too big to control  local chapters launched series of strikes that discredited the Union membership shrunk to 100,000. A few years later, disappeared.

National Labor Union Led by William Sylvus Led by William Sylvus Only white members allowed Only white members allowed Had over 100,000 members Had over 100,000 members Advocated for the 8 hour workday Advocated for the 8 hour workday

American Federation of Laborers (AFL) Founded by Samuel Gompers Founded by Samuel Gompers Rejected the AFL’s idea of one labor union for everyone, instead was an association of essentially autonomous craft unions and represented mainly skilled workers. Rejected the AFL’s idea of one labor union for everyone, instead was an association of essentially autonomous craft unions and represented mainly skilled workers. Generally hostile to organizing unskilled workers Generally hostile to organizing unskilled workers FL against women in the workforce all together because they felt women should be at home, but they did seek equal pay for those women who did work and sought women organizers for industries predominated by women. FL against women in the workforce all together because they felt women should be at home, but they did seek equal pay for those women who did work and sought women organizers for industries predominated by women. Philosophy: Accept capitalism, but secure for the workers a greater share of capitalism’s material rewards. Objected fundamental economic reform, government protection of workers. Focused instead on Labor/Management relationships. Better Wages, hours, and working conditions through collective bargaining, but will use strikes if necessary. Philosophy: Accept capitalism, but secure for the workers a greater share of capitalism’s material rewards. Objected fundamental economic reform, government protection of workers. Focused instead on Labor/Management relationships. Better Wages, hours, and working conditions through collective bargaining, but will use strikes if necessary.

WOBBLIES Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) First organizers include Eugene Debs, Bill Haywood, and Mary Harris Jones First organizers include Eugene Debs, Bill Haywood, and Mary Harris Jones wanted to organize all workers everywhere into a single union wanted to organize all workers everywhere into a single unionsingle unionsingle union Never more than 100,000 members Never more than 100,000 members Conducted numerous strikes, many with bloodshed! --Advocated violence Conducted numerous strikes, many with bloodshed! --Advocated violence

American Railway Union Founded in 1893 by Eugene Debs for railroad workers Founded in 1893 by Eugene Debs for railroad workers incorporated a policy of unionizing all railway workers, regardless of craft or service incorporated a policy of unionizing all railway workers, regardless of craft or service Had over 150,000 members Had over 150,000 members

Four main strikes Great Railroad Strike of 1877 Great Railroad Strike of 1877 Haymarket Square Riot Haymarket Square Riot Homestead Strike Homestead Strike Pullman Strike Pullman Strike

Famous Strikes and Riots: The Great Railroad Strike of 1877  After cutting wages, workers went on strike across East Coast  led to Riots  President Hayes called in state militias which caused problems  led to over 100 dead before strike ended  Result: –Weakened railroad unions –Damaged reputation of labor unions because of the disruption and failure. –10%, strikers destroyed equipment, rioted in the streets.

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

AFL was demanding a 8hr workday for all Employers, and if not done by May 1, 1886, called for a general strike AFL was demanding a 8hr workday for all Employers, and if not done by May 1, 1886, called for a general strike Police harassment of workers/strikers killed 4 strikers the day before, called for a meeting in Haymarket Square Police harassment of workers/strikers killed 4 strikers the day before, called for a meeting in Haymarket Square Police ordered people to disperse, bomb was thrown (killed 6 officers, 67 injured) Police ordered people to disperse, bomb was thrown (killed 6 officers, 67 injured) 8 anarchists convicted of murder, unjust trial, they were scapegoats 8 anarchists convicted of murder, unjust trial, they were scapegoats –7 sentenced to death  1 suicide, 4 executed, 2 terms to life in prison Famous Strikes and Riots: The Haymarket Square Riot

Haymarket Square Riot

Mid-1880s, steel industry had new production methods, which reduced companies’ dependence on skilled labor Mid-1880s, steel industry had new production methods, which reduced companies’ dependence on skilled labor Carnegie decided to cut wages in his plants Carnegie decided to cut wages in his plants Carnegie and managers repeatedly cut wages Carnegie and managers repeatedly cut wages Steel workers union called for a strike, head of homestead Henry Clay Frick called for 300 Pinkertons guards (strikebreakers) Steel workers union called for a strike, head of homestead Henry Clay Frick called for 300 Pinkertons guards (strikebreakers) Battle between strikers and Pinkertons, 3 guards, 10 strikers died, guards surrendered, but company called in PA National Guard (8.000 troops) Battle between strikers and Pinkertons, 3 guards, 10 strikers died, guards surrendered, but company called in PA National Guard (8.000 troops) Public turned against strikers after Frick assassination attempt and the strike was broken Public turned against strikers after Frick assassination attempt and the strike was broken The Homestead Strike

Pullman Palace Car Company built/repaired at company in Pullman, Chicago Pullman Palace Car Company built/repaired at company in Pullman, Chicago Company built town of Pullman so workers could rent homes from owner, George M. Pullman Company built town of Pullman so workers could rent homes from owner, George M. Pullman Panic of 1893 causes Pullman to lower wages, but not rent Panic of 1893 causes Pullman to lower wages, but not rent Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs, within days thousands of railroad workers in 27 states/territories went on strike = no transportation from Chicago to West Coast Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs, within days thousands of railroad workers in 27 states/territories went on strike = no transportation from Chicago to West Coast President Grover Cleveland disliked unions and sent troops President Grover Cleveland disliked unions and sent troops Union leaders (Eugene V. Debs) were arrested and imprisoned. The strike collapsed without leadership. Union leaders (Eugene V. Debs) were arrested and imprisoned. The strike collapsed without leadership. The Pullman Strike