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
Unions Craft vs. Industrial The craft unionist advocates sorting workers into exclusive groups of skilled workers, or workers sharing a particular trade. The organization operates, and the rules are formulated primarily to benefit members of that particular group. The industrial unionist sees advantage in organizing by industry. The local organization is broader and deeper, with less opportunity for employers to turn one group of workers against another.
Knights of Labor Terence V. Powderly An injury to one is the concern of all!
Goals of the Knights of Labor ù Industrial Union ù Skilled and unskilled laborers ù Employers are the new “slave power” ù Eight-hour workday. ù Worker-owned factories. ù Equal pay for men and women. ù Safety codes in the workplace. ù Prohibition of contract foreign labor.
The American Federation of Labor: 1886 Samuel Gompers
How the AF of L Would Help the Workers ù Craft Union ù Skilled worker. ù Represented workers in national legislation. ù National strike fund. ù Prevented disputes among the many craft unions. ù Mediated disputes between management and labor. ù Closed shops.
The Socialists Eugene V. Debs Vs. capitalism & Private Control Problem unequal wealth distribution Problem inevitable concentration of ownership in fewer and fewer hands Want GOV’T. control to ensure fairer distribution of the benefits of wealth. Necessity of class conflict Difference Peaceful vs. violent upheaval
Socialism vs. Communism From James D. Forman’s 1974 book, “Fascism.” – Democratic socialism, favoring government ownership of the principal means of production, found gradual acceptance in the more advanced and industrialized nations through persuasion and the ballot box rather than by force and violence. Communism, with its revolutionary programs directed toward the same economic ends as democratic socialism, addressed itself to the bloody overthrow of capitalism everywhere, but it met with little success where the parent system was firmly planted.
Anarchists 1886 Government unfairly restricts freedom of workers. “New Order” needs to be achieved that represents the laborers.
International Workers of the World (“Wobblies”) More aggressive union of industrial workers.
“Big Bill” Haywood of the IWW Violence was justified to overthrow capitalism.
I W W & the Internationale
The Hand That Will Rule the World One Big Union
Union Struggles AFL opposed by National Association of Manufacturers & the radical IWW. IWW: – Class conflict – Worker takeover Manufacturer Assoc: – Spies – Injunction – Yellow Dog Contracts. Lack of UNITY damages possibility of success.
The “Formula” unions + violence + strikes + socialists + immigrants = anarchists