The Growth of the American Labor Movement

The Hand That Will Rule the World One Big Union

Unions (3)Workers grouped to help each other In the early days, the U.S. government had no laws for factories. Factories could hire children, make people work long hours, give no lunch breaks, etc. (2) 59 HOURS A WEEK / 22 CENTS AN HOURS Unions would represent the workers and (1)ask for better wages and more benefits. The formation of unions drastically improved working conditions in America. Two types of workers were part of industrial America: Craft Workers-had special skills Common Laborers-had few skills (3)Workers grouped to help each other (4) Stop workforce with a lockout

Labor Force Distribution 1870-1900

Child Labor

The Changing American Labor Force

Child Labor

“Galley Labor”

Labor Unrest: 1870-1900

Unions part 2 Many large companies did not like unions. These companies would hire “detectives” to try and find union organizers. If you were caught as a union man, you were put on the blacklist. Many immigrants were on the blacklist due to unions from Europe.

The Corporate “Bully-Boys”: Pinkerton Agents

Management vs. Labor “Tools” of Management “Tools” of Labor “scabs” P. R. campaign Pinkertons lockout blacklisting yellow-dog contracts court injunctions open shop boycotts sympathy demonstrations informational picketing closed shops organized strikes “wildcat” strikes

A Striker Confronts a SCAB!

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

The Great Railroad Strike In July 1877 the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad announced it was cutting wages. Workers got mad and organized a strike. It involved 80,000 workers and over 60% of the nations railways. It took police, state militias, and federal troops 12 days to restore order. Over 100 people were killed and $10 million in damages.

“Solidarity Forever!” * * * * Through our sisters and our brothers we can make our union strong, For respect and equal value, we have done without too long. We no longer have to tolerate injustices and wrongs, Yes, the union makes us strong! CHORUS: Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever, For the union makes us strong!

Lawrence, MA Strike: 1912

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Knights of Labor This organization was founded in 1869 (5) head labor union in 1910s Terrence Powderly was the leader. He fought for (6) 8 hour work days and equal pay for women among other reforms. By 1885 they had over 700,000 members.

An injury to one is the concern of all! Knights of Labor Terence V. Powderly An injury to one is the concern of all!

Knights of Labor trade card

Goals of the Knights of Labor Eight-hour workday. Workers’ cooperatives. Worker-owned factories. Abolition of child and prison labor. Increased circulation of greenbacks. Equal pay for men and women. Safety codes in the workplace. Prohibition of contract foreign labor. Abolition of the National Bank.

Anarchists Meet on the Lake Front in 1886

(7) Haymarket Riot On May 1st 1886 there was a called (8)strike across the country for the 8 hour work day. Many cities had strikes including (9)Chicago. On May 3rd at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company strike, police shot 4 people.

McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. Haymarket Riot (1886) McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.

Haymarket Riot part 2 Someone threw a bomb at police. On May 4th people gathered in Chicago’s Haymarket Square to discuss the shooting. This rally got violent. Someone threw a bomb at police. Over 100 people were injured. The police arrested 8 German immigrants. Some of these German men were members of the Knights of Labor which hurt the organizations reputation. (10) 5 arrested and indicted / 4 executed

Haymarket Martyrs

A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL

The Pullman Strike of 1894

Pullman Strike ThePullman Palace Car Company led by (12) George Pullman built train cars to be pulled behind locomotives. This company required its workers to (13)live in company apartments and buy goods from company stores. Then, the company began to cut workers wages. (14)making it harder to pay rent & increased prices A rail car boycott erupted across the country (15) paralyzing US Economy To end the boycott, Officials (16)ordered the U.S. Mail cars to be attached to the Pullman Cars. President Grover Cleveland gave the order to keep the mail running. Eventually the boycott ended.

Government by injunction! The Pullman Strike of 1894 Government by injunction!

President Grover Cleveland If it takes the entire army and navy to deliver a postal card in Chicago, that card will be delivered!

(11)Homestead,PA Steel Strike (1892) Homestead Steel Works The Association of Iron & Steel Workers

AF of L Marxism was on the rise during this time. Karl Marx felt the class struggle between the workers and the owners shaped society and that their would ultimately be a revolution. (18) Samuel Gompers was the first leader for the (17)American Federation of Labor (AFL). This was the most dominant union in the late 1800’s. The AF of L fought for higher wages, better working conditions, and 8 hour workdays. Gompers was popular because he wanted to negotiate rather than strike.

The American Federation of Labor: 1886 Samuel Gompers

How the AF of L Would Help the Workers Catered to the skilled worker. Represented workers in matters of national legislation. Maintained a national strike fund. Evangelized the cause of unionism. Prevented disputes among the many craft unions. Mediated disputes between management and labor. Pushed for closed shops.

Mother Jones: “Most dangerous woman in the world” Mary Harris. Organizer for the United Mine Workers. Founded the Social Democratic Party in 1898. One of the founding members of the I. W. W. in 1905. WTUL Lead way for (19) Teachers, Nurses, & Sales Clerk Jobs

Workers Benefits Today

Right-to-Work States Today

The Socialists Eugene V. Debs

Unionism & Globalization?

Unionism & Globalization? Who cares and so what? Socialism is not communism and takes some control Is it alright for people to outsource jobs to other countries Ideas for collective bargaining There’s no superbowl

Ch. 5 sec 4- Tech Time- 1 -Improve, wages, hours, conditions 16- Used the US mail 2 -59 hours / 22 cents an hour 17- American Federation of Labor 3- workers grouped to help each other 18 - Samuel Gompers 4- workers don’t work 19- Teachers, Nurses, Sales Clerk 5- head labor unions in 1910s 6- 8 hr work day , pay for women, no child labor 7- Haymarket Riot 8- Nationwide strike 9- Chicago 10- 5 arrested, 4 executed 11- Homestead, PA 12- George Pullman 13- Live in & Buy good from company stores 14- pay rent & high prices 15- Paralyze Economy