1. Labor Unions & Strikes
United States History

2. Progress and Progressivism
Progress – To move forward, make better
Progressivism: a social movement and grew into a political movement. The early progressives rejected Social Darwinism.

3. Solving Problems: Working Conditions
Labor Union: An organized association of workers formed to protect and further their RIGHTS and INTERESTS
Strikes: A group, rallying and not going to work. Demanding better conditions from their bosses.
Collective bargaining- the ability for laborers to work together to ensure their interests; “Strength in numbers”

4. Knights of Labor First important national union
Wanted to organize ALL workers: skilled, unskilled and of all backgrounds (no racial restrictions)
Set the example: negotiate, then strike if needed
Goals: 8 hour day; end of child labor
Lost influence after violent strikes
Wanted to pass legislation

5. Other Unions American Federation of Labor (AFL):
Smaller local unions with a national organization
Wages, hours, conditions
Strikes, collective bargaining
Excluded African-Americans
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
Wanted to abolish the wage system
Socialism (Wobblies)
Start a Revolution

6. Labor Union Leaders – Samuel Gompers
London Immigrant
At age 10, worked as a cigar maker
Moves to US – becomes the Cigar Workers Union President
Wants to combine unions all together
FOUNDED AMERICAN FEDERATON OF LABOR CRAFT UNION
1 million members

7. Labor Union Leaders – Eugene V Debs
American Socialist Party
At age 15, was a railroad fireman
Started Brotherhood of LocoFiremen Union
Combined unions together…ALL RAILROAD WORKERS
Led PULLMAN STRIKE
Runs for President as Communist Party

8. Labor Union Leaders – Mary “Mother” Jones
Irish Immigrant
Worked for the KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Was considered “The most dangerous woman” because she was so influential
“I’m a Humanitarian worker, not a hell-raiser”
Involved in the Haymarket Affair

9. Haymarket Affair
You may work in groups of up to three. You all must work on the same document together, but you may split up who is looking for what information from the article.
In the Red Book, use pages to answer question 1 and 1a in your note sheet.
Use pages for question 2-2d

10. How did Employers fight against Unions?
No Union Meetings
Union organizers fired
Blacklisting
Would not bargain collectively
Strikes met with violence

11. Collective Bargaining
a process of negotiation between employees and a group of employers aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries and other benefits.
Let’s try it out!!

12. Were Unions Effective?
Yes: EVENTUALLY created minimum wage and child labor laws (not until 1930s+)
No: Employers ignored them and found loopholes.

13. Writing Focus: Great Claim Statements
What do we need a good claim statement (thesis)?
What makes a claim statement great?
The Formula
[My argument is this], because A , B , C .
Ex. “Mrs. Morris is the greatest teacher ever, because she is super smart, hilarious, and easy to understand.” [A+]
Your Prompt: Were labor unions effective at protecting workers’ rights?

14. Writing Focus: Counterclaims
A stance that someone could take in response to the prompt that isn’t the stance YOU are taking
Doesn’t have to be the exact opposite
Needs to be something that people would actually believe
Where should it go?