WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LABOR UNION?

Labor Union  an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions  Merriam-Webster Dictionary

How a union works?  Most gain power through collective bargaining  Unions negotiating with employers on behalf of all employees  try to gain better pay, conditions, et cetera for the whole group  The unions power lies in its numbers, unity & ability to take action (strike…?)  BUT the employer can always hire scabs or make employees sign yellow dog contracts

Unions in America  As early as revolutionary period unions existed in America, mostly temporary & based on individual crafts  Became more widespread, more diverse and more permanent during the 19 th century

National Labor Union  FIRST national labor federation in the United States  founded in 1866  Dissolved in 1874  Led by William H Sylvis  Paved the way for other unions (Knights, AFL)  Wanted to bring together all the other labor organizations  Favored arbitration over strikes  Called for the creation of a National Labor Party

National Labor Union  NLU drew its support from:  Construction Unions  Skilled Workers BUT they encouraged unskilled workers and farmers to join!  Fought Chinese immigration  Half-heartedly fought for the rights of women and blacks

Knights of Labor  One of the very first unions to form after the Civil War (1869)  Founder: Uriah Stephens  Anyone is allowed to join!  Regardless of race, gender, skill  BUT bankers, doctors, lawyers, gamblers, stockholders, and liquor manufactures couldn’t join  8 hour day, equal pay for all men and women, ending child labor, bargaining > strikes  Collapsed after unsuccessful strikes

American Federation of Labor (AFL)  Founded in 1881  International trade unions joined with other trade and craft unions to form the AFL  Led by Samuel Gompers  Used a lot of strikes  Focused on collective bargaining  Groups negotiate to reach written agreements between workers and employers  Skilled workers only

Industrial Workers of the World  Socialist union, led by Bob Haywood  Also known as the “Wobblies”  International, radical and wanted to end capitalism  Formed in 1905 but faded in the 1920s because of conflicts with the AFL  Wanted all workers to unite  Base was unskilled workers BUT anyone could join!

Organized Labor  NLU, 1866, William Sylus, no women or African Americans, working conditions & politics  Knights of Labor, 1869, Uriah Stephens, everyone, working conditions & politics  AFL, 1886, Samuel Gompers, skilled only, working conditions  IWW, 1905, Bob Haywood, unskilled base, anyone could be part, get rid of capitalism NOT A UNION – Socialist Party of America, 1895, Eugene Debs, anyone

IWW KNIGHTS NLU AFL-CIO Socialism

Most Conservative  American Federation of Labor  Craftsmen only (skilled)  Work conditions and rates of pay ONLY

Middle of the Road  NLU  Incorporated more people  Political agenda (prison labor, land reform, currency reform)  Knights of Labor  All  8 hour day - Political agenda (government ownership railroads, telegraphs, telephones)

Most Radical  IWW  workers unite to do away with capitalism  SPLIT – stay with Socialists?  "Capitalists of America, we will fight against you, not for you! There is not a power in the world that can make the working class fight if they refuse."

 The few own the many because they possess the means of livelihood of all... The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labor. The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands - the ownership and control of their livelihoods - are set at naught, we can have neither men's rights nor women's rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease." — Helen Keller, IWW member, 1911

What happened to the unions of the progressive era?

What happens to them?  NLU – divided & dissolved  Knights – Haymarket  AFL – Survived  IWW – Pretty dead after WWI  What determined which were successful?

What happened to the AFL?  In 1955  AFL merges with their biggest rival, the Congress of Industrial Organizations  Becomes the AFL-CIO  Still exists!  AFL has created the longest lasting and most influential labor federation in the United States

Major Strikes & Their Impacts on Unions Haymarket Riot May workers killed & others wounded by police - McCormick Reaper Works workers rally for an 8 hour day -May 4, 1886 rally organized by radicals – bomb thrown & police fire -8 charged & convicted, 7 sentenced to death Pullman Strike 1894   Transit strike

Unions Victories  ½ strikes lead to demands being met  Victorious: Anthracite Coal Strike 1902   Politically fight for:  Child labor legislation  Work days/hours Muller v. Oregon (1908) – women only – 10 hour Bunting v. Oregon (1917) – men too – 10 hour  Workmen’s compensation  What is missing?

Weekly Wages and Hours in Manufacturing Average Work Week in Hours Hourly Wage Average Annual Wage cents cents$ cents cents$1, cents$1, cents$1, $1.46$3,008

What hindered unions the most?

Labor Unions in Action  feature=related feature=related

Mary Harris Jones  “Mother Jones”  Endured death threats and jail because she was the most prominent organizer in the labor movement  Organized the Child Labor march on Washington DC