A Time of Labor Unrest Why did conflict between labor and management increase after the war? Why did the public turn against the strikers? Why did labor union membership decline in the 1920s?

A Time of Labor Unrest During WWI, the US Labor Administration prevented labor unions from striking. In 1919, there were more than 3,000 strikes involving approximately 4 million workers Workers wanted better wages and working conditions (wages had not kept pace with inflation)

The "American Plan" the American Plan = anti-labor policy advocated by employers it was un-American for a worker to “have” to join a union to get a job (a.k.a. no closed shop agreements) by refusing to negotiate with unions, employers were “protecting” workers’ rights to work (a.k.a. no collective bargaining)

The "American Plan" actions taken by “American Plan” companies: offered benefits (higher wages, stock ownership, vacation time, etc.) allowed formation of local company-based unions with no outside affiliations and little power fired striking workers and union representatives disseminated propaganda associating unions with communists, socialists, and anarchists

The Boston Police Strike Boston police had not been given a raise since the start of WWI Representatives who asked for a raise were fired Remaining 1,117 officers went on strike in September 1919 Fear for public safety generated national attention

The Boston Police Strike MA governor, Calvin Coolidge, called out the National Guard “There is no right to strike against public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.”

The Boston Police Strike After the strike ended, the striking officers were not allowed to return to work New officers were hired and trained Coolidge was praised for “saving Boston, if not the nation, from communism and anarchy”

The Steel Mill Strike Steel workers wanted: right to negotiate for shorter working hours and higher wages union recognition with collective bargaining U.S. Steel management refused to meet with workers (September 1919) Over 300,000 workers went on strike

The Steel Mill Strike Strikebreakers (employees who agreed to work during the strike) were hired Striking workers were beaten by police, federal troops, and state militias Management instituted a national propaganda campaign linking the strikers to communists

The Steel Mill Strike Strike ended in January 1920 In 1923, a report on the harsh working conditions was made public In response, management agreed to an 8-hour day, though did not recognize the legitimacy of the union

The Coal Miners' Strike United Mine Workers of America (led by John Lewis) called for a strike on November 1, 1919 Union wanted to protest low wages and long workdays and workweeks Attorney General Palmer obtained a court order sending the miners back to work

The Coal Miners' Strike Mines stayed closed for a month beyond the court order President Wilson ordered an arbitrator (judge) to settle the dispute Workers received a 27% wage increase, but did not get the shorter workday nor the shorter workweek

Labor Movement Loses Appeal Reasons for the decline: unions were linked to Communists, socialists, and anarchists much of the work force consisted of immigrants willing to work in poor conditions immigrant workers were difficult to organize because they spoke many different languages (not English) farmers who had migrated to the cities to find factory jobs were used to self-reliance most unions excluded African-Americans