An Urban Society

The Workers’ Plight Growth of industry led to growth of factories Growth of industry led to growth of factories Industrialization influenced workers’ lives Industrialization influenced workers’ lives –Where they lived and worked –Size of the workforce –Nature of work itself Skilled workers had little advantages now Skilled workers had little advantages now

Problems Unfair conditions of employment Unfair conditions of employment –Workdays between 10 and 14 hours –Real wages rose more than 10% Still inadequate Still inadequate –Required to live in company towns Paid in scrip Paid in scrip Stores charged higher prices Stores charged higher prices Many remained in debt Many remained in debt

Problems Health and Safety Hazards Health and Safety Hazards –Unhealthy working conditions Child Labor Child Labor –Children as young as 6 were employed –Evaded state child labor laws Job Insecurity Job Insecurity –Vulnerable to the business cycle –Looked to unions for protection

The Revival of Labor Unions Labor union growth had halted Labor union growth had halted Problems with Organizing Problems with Organizing –Difficulties organizing mobile workforce –Different labor leaders had different goals –Employers opposed unions Blacklist employees Blacklist employees Use lockout Use lockout Problems with Public Image Problems with Public Image –Unions using collective bargaining as violating individual rights –Law enforcement sided with employers

Railroad Strike of 1877 Labor Responds to Wage Cuts Labor Responds to Wage Cuts –Railroad companies were hit by economic woes Cut workers’ pay Cut workers’ pay Lengthened workdays Lengthened workdays Discontinued “free ride” policy Discontinued “free ride” policy –B&O Line decided to strike WV governor sent in militia WV governor sent in militia People were killed on the streets People were killed on the streets

The Knights of Labor and the AFL Unions Knights of Labor most influential union Knights of Labor most influential union –Attempted to bring all people together The Desire for Widespread Reform The Desire for Widespread Reform –Terence V. Powderly led union –Believed a single union was best –Opposed strikes –Settle disputes through arbitration –Swamped with troubles Wasted funds trying to set up cooperative businesses Wasted funds trying to set up cooperative businesses Failed to unite workers Failed to unite workers

The Knights of Labor and the AFL Unions Haymarket Tragedy Haymarket Tragedy –Chicago, May 4, 1886 –Protesting police who shot a striking worker –Someone threw a bomb in a group of police officers –Knights of Labor gained a bad reputation Foundation of the AFL Foundation of the AFL –American Federation of Labor organized in 1886 –Formed by Samuel Gompers –Accepted only skilled workers –Organized workers into separate unions Each union managed itself Each union managed itself –Very successful union

The Pullman Strike Industrial union developed Industrial union developed –Addressed the needs of unskilled laborers –Eugene V. Debs felt separating workers led to weakened power Started American Railway Union in 1893 Started American Railway Union in 1893 Powerful enough to get wage cuts restored Powerful enough to get wage cuts restored

The Pullman Strike Protest Leads to Walkout Protest Leads to Walkout –Pullman Palace Car Co. laid off 2/3 workers Cut wages of rest Cut wages of rest –Workers protested cuts and were fired –ARU took up case Debs proposed arbitration handle case Debs proposed arbitration handle case –Pullman refused Called for anyone working on a Pullman car to strike Called for anyone working on a Pullman car to strike Federal Intervention Turns the Tide Federal Intervention Turns the Tide –President Cleveland sent in federal troops Federal government received an injunction forbidding the strike Federal government received an injunction forbidding the strike –Debs refused and was imprisoned Without Debs, union collapsed and strike ended Without Debs, union collapsed and strike ended