1. Unions

2. http://learn360. infobase. com/p_ViewVideo. aspx
What were some of the problems with unionizing in the early years?
What were some of the things workers asked for?
How did companies try to put down strikes?

3. Cause of Tension in jobs
Conditions:
Dull, repetitive tasks in dangerous, unhealthy conditions
Breathed in lint, dust, toxic fumes
Heavy machines lacked safety devices—injuries
Although wages rose, uneven division of income between wealthy & working class
In 1900, average worker made 22 cents/hr & worked 59 hrs/wk
Deflation- rise in value of money
Caused prices to fall, increased buying power of workers’ wages
Companies cut wages regularly in late 1800s

4. Early unions Types of industrial workers
Craft workers- special skills and training, higher wages, more control over their time
Common laborers- few skills, lower wages
Craft workers formed earliest trade unions in 1830’s

5. Opposition from companies
Especially didn’t like industrial unions
Tried to end union formations
Required oaths/contracts
Hired detectives
Blacklisted workers
“Lockouts” and refused pay
Replacements hired
Efforts usually successful—no laws giving workers right to form unions or requiring owners to negotiate with them
Courts usually ruled that strikes were “conspiracies in restraint of trade” and fined or jailed labor leaders

6. Opposition due to Marxism
Beliefs of Karl Marx (Marxism):
Capitalist society was class struggle between workers and owners
Workers would eventually revolt, seize control of factories, and overthrow government
State would disappear, leaving a communist society—no classes
Many labor supporters agreed with Marxism
Overall viewed as un-American & union formation suffered

7. Opposition due to Anarchism
Many labor supporters agreed with anarchism (no need of any government)
In late 1800s, anarchists assassinated government officials and set off bombs across Europe, hoping to begin revolution
Many feared anarchism and so feared unions

8. Opposition due to Anti-Immigrant Feelings
Tens of thousands European immigrants
Immigrant workers associated with radical ideas & became suspicious of unions

9. The Great Railroad Strike
Panic of recession, forced companies to cut wages
July Baltimore & Ohio Railroad cut wages a third time
Martinsburg, WV, workers walked off job and blocked tracks
Strike eventually involved ~80,000 and affected 2/3 of nation’s railways
Smashed equipment, tore up tracks, blocked rail service in many major cities
Militias called out & gun battles erupted
President Hayes declared state of of “insurrection” & sent troops
Took 12 days to restore order— more than 100 dead & over $ mil. in railroad property destroyed

10. The Knights of Labor Founded 1869
Terence Powderly, leader, opposed strikes in favor of boycotts and arbitration (settling dispute by agreeing to accept decision of an impartial outsider)
Welcomed women & African Americans
Called for 8-hr work day, equal pay for women, no child labor, and worker-owned factories

11. Haymarket Riot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT_ZWCB_1cM
8-hr workday supporters had nationwide strike on May 1, 1886
May 3- Chicago police intervened in fight on picket line, opened fire and killed four
Next day- 3,000 gathered to protest shootings in Chicago’s Haymarket Square
Someone threw bomb, police opened fire, workers shot back
Injured about 170, killed 10 police
8 arrested for bomb, evidence was weak, but anger resulted in convictions, 4 executed
Critics used strike to claim all unions were dangerous
Hurt Knights of Labor’s f reputation since one convicted was a member

12. Homestead riot Summer 1892 Carnegie’s steel mill in Homestead, PA
Mill managed by Henry Clay Frick, an anti-union business partner
Frick proposed cutting wages by 20%, locked out employees who were members of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers, and had Pinkerton Detective Agency bring in replacements
When Pinkertons and strikebreakers approached, strikers resisted & fought for hrs
Several dead, dozens injured
Governor sent in militia to protect strikebreakers & 4 months later, strike collapsed

13. Pullman Strike
1894 Pullman Palace Car Company slashed wages without lowering rents and prices in company town
American Railway Union (ARU) workers refused to handle Pullman cars & railroads ground to near halt
Managers arranged to have U.S. mail cars attached to j Pullman cars and President Cleveland sent in fed troops to keep mail running
Federal court issued an injunction to halt boycott
Both strike and ARU collapsed
Supreme Court later upheld right to issue injunction—gave business powerful tool for dealing with labor unrest

14. American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Trade unions created to promote interests of skilled workers
Samuel Gompers first president & mostly held until 1924
Focused on wages, working hours, and working conditions rather than politics
Would rather negotiate before striking
Main goals:
Companies to recognize unions and agree to collective bargaining
Closed shops—could hire only union members
8-hr. workday
Biggest union by ,000 members.
Represented less than 15% of nonfarm workers
Discriminated against African Americans and only a few admitted women

15. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
Created in 1905 by labor radicals, many socialists
Nicknamed “the Wobblies”
Wanted to organize all workers according to industry, without making distinctions between skilled and unskilled
Endorsed strikes
Focused on organizing unskilled workers who were ignored by most unions
Lawrence Strike Led strike of 25,000 textile workers to protest wage cuts
Companies reversed wage cuts after 10 weeks
Greatest victory—most IWW strikes failed
Never very popular—radical ideas and controversial strikes

16. Women in the Workforce By 1900, 18% of workforce were women
Did “women’s work”
1/3 domestic servants
1/3 teachers, nurses, sales clerks, office clerical workers
1/3 industrial workers (usually garment industry or food-processing)
Women paid less than men—figured women had men who helped support her and than men needed more money to support a family
Most unions excluded
Mary Harris Jones- “Mother Jones”- labor organizer for Knights of Labor before helping organize mine workers
Public speaking abilities. Rockefeller called her “the most dangerous woman in America”

17. Women in the Workforce Cont’d
International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) founded in 1900 by Jewish and Italian immigrants in NYC who worked in clothing business
Represented both males and females in clothing industry
In 1909, strike of 30,000 won recognition in industry, better wages, and benefits
Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL) founded by Mary Kenney O’Sullivan and Leonora O’Reilly in with help from Jane Addams and Lillian Wald.
8-hr workday
Minimum wage
End to evening work for women
End to child labor

18. Questions What factors made unions unpopular to some?
How were new industrial unions different from older trade unions?