Chapter 12 Section 4

Early Unions Two types of industrial workers:Two types of industrial workers: –Craft workers Special skills and trainingSpecial skills and training Machinists, iron molders, stonecutters, shoemakers, printers, etc.Machinists, iron molders, stonecutters, shoemakers, printers, etc. –Common Laborers Few skillsFew skills Low wagesLow wages

Early Unions Trade UnionsTrade Unions –1830s –Craft Workers Industry opposesIndustry opposes –Conspiracies –Had to negotiate for workers’ rights Industrial UnionsIndustrial Unions –United all workers in particular industry

Management vs. Labor “Tools” of Management “Tools” of Labor  “scabs” (strikebreaker)  P. R. campaign  Pinkertons (detective)  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 Corporate “Bully-Boys”: Pinkerton Agents

Political and Social Opposition No laws protecting unionsNo laws protecting unions Courts: strikes were “conspiracies in restraint of trade.”Courts: strikes were “conspiracies in restraint of trade.” Unions—un-AmericanUnions—un-American MarxismMarxism AnarchismAnarchism Anti-immigrantAnti-immigrant Used courts, police, army to break up strikes or unionsUsed courts, police, army to break up strikes or unions

Labor Force Distribution

The Changing American Labor Force

Child Labor

“Galley Labor”

Labor Unrest:

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

Knights of Labor Terrence PowderlyTerrence Powderly Opposed strikesOpposed strikes Boycotts to pressure employersBoycotts to pressure employers Arbitration—3 rd party helps workers and employers reach an agreementArbitration—3 rd party helps workers and employers reach an agreement Welcomed women and African American membersWelcomed women and African American members

Knights of Labor Knights of Labor trade card

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

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

The Great Railroad Strike 1873 severe recession1873 severe recession Cut wagesCut wages 1877 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cutting wages for third time1877 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cutting wages for third time Martinsburg, West Virginia—workers walked off job and blocked the tracksMartinsburg, West Virginia—workers walked off job and blocked the tracks Soon spread around countrySoon spread around country 80,000 railroad workers80,000 railroad workers 2/3 of nation’s railways2/3 of nation’s railways

The Great Railroad Strike Strikers smashed equip, tore up tracks, blocked rail service in NY, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and ChicagoStrikers smashed equip, tore up tracks, blocked rail service in NY, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Chicago Governors called out militiaGovernors called out militia Gun battles eruptedGun battles erupted Sent fed troopsSent fed troops 12 days12 days 100 dead and $100 million damage100 dead and $100 million damage

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

The Tournament of Today: A Set-to Between Labor and Monopoly

Haymarket Riot (1886) McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.

Haymarket Riot Supporters of 8-hour workday called for nationwide strikeSupporters of 8-hour workday called for nationwide strike Chicago—80,000 people march (led by Knights of Labor)Chicago—80,000 people march (led by Knights of Labor) 70,000 workers on strike for days70,000 workers on strike for days Police intervened to stop a fight on the picket line at the McCormick Harvesting Machine CompanyPolice intervened to stop a fight on the picket line at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company

Haymarket Riot Incident turned violentIncident turned violent Police fired on strikers, killing fourPolice fired on strikers, killing four Local anarchist group organized a protestLocal anarchist group organized a protest 3,000 people gathered to hear speeches3,000 people gathered to hear speeches Someone threw a bomb, killing one officer and wounding 6 othersSomeone threw a bomb, killing one officer and wounding 6 others Police open fired, workers shot backPolice open fired, workers shot back 100 people including 70 officers injured100 people including 70 officers injured

Haymarket Riot Eight people arrested for bombingEight people arrested for bombing 7 were German anarchistic immigrants7 were German anarchistic immigrants Four were executedFour were executed Unions dominated by dangerous radicalsUnions dominated by dangerous radicals Hurt Knights of LaborHurt Knights of Labor –Decline in membership and influence

Haymarket Martyrs

Homestead Steel Strike (1892) The Amalgamated Association of Iron & Steel Workers Homestead Steel Works

Homestead Strike (1892) Steel mill (Carnegie)(1892) Steel mill (Carnegie) Anti-union management Henry FrickAnti-union management Henry Frick Employees—Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin WorkersEmployees—Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers Frick wanted to cut wages by 20% when union contract expiredFrick wanted to cut wages by 20% when union contract expired Planned to lock employees out and bring in the Pinkerton Detective Agency to bring in replacement workersPlanned to lock employees out and bring in the Pinkerton Detective Agency to bring in replacement workers

Homestead Strike Pinkertons and strikebreakers approached plant on bargesPinkertons and strikebreakers approached plant on barges Strikers refused to let them landStrikers refused to let them land GunfireGunfire 14 hours14 hours Several dead, dozen injuredSeveral dead, dozen injured Governor ordered militiaGovernor ordered militia Four months of strikingFour months of striking

Big Corporate Profits!

Attempted Assassination! Henry Clay Frick Alexander Berkman

A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL

Pullman Cars A Pullman porter

The Pullman Strike of 1894

Pullman Strike Leadership of Eugene V. DebsLeadership of Eugene V. Debs American Railway Union (ARU) in 1893American Railway Union (ARU) in 1893 Pullman required workers to live in company town and buy goods from company storesPullman required workers to live in company town and buy goods from company stores 1893—laid off workers and cut wages1893—laid off workers and cut wages Workers could not afford company storesWorkers could not afford company stores

The Socialists Eugene V. Debs

Pullman Strike Company refused to discuss workers’ grievancesCompany refused to discuss workers’ grievances Strike 1894Strike 1894 ARU members across the country refused to handle Pullman carsARU members across the country refused to handle Pullman cars Boycott tied up railroads and threatened economyBoycott tied up railroads and threatened economy Railroad managers arranged for US mail cars to be attached to Pullman carsRailroad managers arranged for US mail cars to be attached to Pullman cars

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

Pullman Strike Pres Grover Cleveland—sent in troops claiming it was his responsibility to keep mail runningPres Grover Cleveland—sent in troops claiming it was his responsibility to keep mail running Injunction to halt boycottInjunction to halt boycott Debs went to jail for violating injunctionDebs went to jail for violating injunction Strike collapsedStrike collapsed Supreme Court upheld injunctionSupreme Court upheld injunction –Powerful tool for businesses

The Pullman Strike of 1894 Government by injunction!

Labor Union Membership