2. GILDED AGE: INDUSTRIALIZATION
TOPIC 5
LABOR UNIONS AND STRIKES

3. Essential Questions
Explain the conditions of industrialization that led to the rise of organized labor.
Evaluate labor’s effectiveness in achieving its goals.

4. WORKING CONDITIONS
New machinery, which had replaced many skilled workers, was monotonous and, often, dangerous.
Between 1865 and 1897, the US experienced deflation: caused prices to decrease and companies to cut wages.
Workers were essentially at the mercy of industrialists, UNTIL…they began to organize.
Workers wanted: higher wages, better benefits (like not dying on the job), better conditions, and fewer hours.
Owners wanted: to make money.

6. THE GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE
The Year: 1877
The Problem: Railroads cut wages for workers
The Response: First nationwide labor protest
The Players: 80,000 railroad workers across 11 states--- IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN RAIL TRAFFIC!
The Result: violence
and chaos led to US
government intervention…
on the side of business!

7. The Holy and Noble Order of THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Est. 1869
Who: Open to all, blacks, whites, men and women, skilled and unskilled workers
Founder: Uriah Stephens
Leader: Terrence Powderly
Goals: Cooperatives to make each man his own employer
End child labor
End of monopolies and trusts
Change working society in general
History: Grew rapidly but declined just as quick after they were blamed for the Haymarket Square Riot

8. HAYMARKET SQUARE RIOT 1886
The Knights called for a nationwide strike on May Day to support an 8-hour work day.
On May 3rd, a clash between strikers and police leaves one dead.
On May 4th, a protest took place at Chicago’s Haymarket Square, ending violently when someone threw a bomb and police responded by firing into the crowd.
Significance: The public blamed the Knights and the Knights were no more.

10. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
Who: Skilled workers only
Leader: Samuel Gompers
Goals: Non-political
Higher wages
Improved working conditions
Closed shop = where only union workers are hired.
Excluded women and African Americans
History: Still around today, known as the AFL- CIO.

11. HOMESTEAD STRIKE 1892
Carnegie’s business partner Henry Frick cut wages of the company workers at Carnegie’s plant in Homestead, PA.
Workers called for a strike.
Frick then called for the Pinkertons to break up the strike, and hired scabs.
When strikers attempted sabotage in the factory, violence broke out (again).
Government supported business (again).

12. AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION 1893
Leader: Eugene V. Debs
Type of Union: industrial; open to skilled and unskilled laborers in the RR industry
The ARU unionized the Pullman Palace Car Company based in Illinois.

13. THE PULLMAN STRIKE 1894
As an economic crisis set in, George Pullman laid off or cut the wages of those living in his company town.
Workers complaining of high prices of rent and food were fired, and appealed to the ARU.
Under Debs leadership, ARU workers were advised not to handle any trains with Pullman Cars, thus shutting down rail traffic.
Railroad owners supported Pullman and linked Pullman cars to mail trains. President Cleveland used the army to keep mail trains running.
A federal court injunction ordered railroad workers to abandon the boycott and not interfere with the mail.
Debs refused and was arrested.

15. INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD! Est.1905
A.K.A. The Wobblies, or the IWW
Founders: Eugene V. Debs and Big Bill Haywood
Membership: open to unskilled, industrial workers, including women and African Americans
Slogan: “Workers of the World…Unite!”
Setback: became viewed as too radical, and associated with socialism

16. AND THEN THERE WAS… United Mine Workers Women’s Trade Union League
Coal Miners
Mary Harris “Mother” Jones
West Virginia
Women’s Trade Union League
Mary O’Sullivan, Leonora O’Reilly, Jane Addams, Lillian Wald
1909: “Uprising of the 20,000”

17. TENSION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND LABOR
Management Tactics
Labor Tactics
Scabs/Strikebreakers
Pinkertons
Lockout
Blacklisting
Yellow-Dog Contract
Court Injunction
Open Shop
Boycott
Demonstration
Protest
Organized Strikes
Sit-Down Strikes
Collective Bargaining
Closed Shop

18. ESSENTIAL CONCLUSIONS
In the late 19th century, workers faced unhealthy and dangerous working conditions, long hours, and low wages
Competition for jobs, with the lack of child labor laws and increased immigration, meant workers had little choice but to accept working conditions or lose their job.
In the late 19th century, the acceptance of laissez- faire by both business and government blocked unions from achieving their goals.

19. SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
STRIKES
COMPANY TOWNS
HAYMARKET RIOT