1. Labor
Brainstorm/Write down as many words or phrases about work as you can think of

2. Being an average working person during the late 1800’s was not easy!

3. Piecework This guys is paid per Spindle made!
You are paid for ever item produced, not by time.
The faster you work, the more you were paid
Younger, stronger workers were able to make more
This guys is paid per
Spindle made!

4. What makes this Possible? Assembly Line!!!!
Division of labor
Performed only one task over and over
You rarely saw the finished product because you passed it on to someone else to finish
What makes this
Possible?
Assembly
Line!!!!

5. sweatshop Overworked Under paid Poor conditions
Many died of malnutrition or disease

6. women They were assigned to work simple machines
Women had NO CHANCE of advancement…meaning, they would never become manager

7. children Children HAD to work to help their families to survive
That meant no school, no playing outside, no toys, no childhood
Many, as young as 4, would be put to work for pennies a day

8. Labor and Industry
Do we stand for the poor conditions or do we strike?!?!?!?!

9. During the industrial period, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer
I hate Mondays!

11. Others decide to just try and improve their working conditions

12. Labor unions Organization of workers
Usually operated on behalf of the worker
A TRADE UNION organized workers of a specific trade… like, iron workers or oil workers…

13. American Federation of Labor
“We know to our regret that too often our wives sisters and children are brought into the factories only to reduce the wages of the men- the true heads of the family”
Led by Samuel Gompers
Consisted of skilled workers only
Men only!
Boycott!
The AFL focused on 3 things:
Wages
Hours
Working Conditions
Strike!
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING:
Workers, as a group, work to negotiate with their employers

14. Knights of labor
A labor union that tried to combine all trades into one union
Led by Terrence Powderly
They allowed all workers!
They allowed women and African Americans to join.
Included farmers, shopkeepers, factory workers, office workers…
Became unpopular after strikes made them seem dangerous!

15. Owners hated the unions!
No meetings! They would not allow their employees to meet.
The FIRED union organizers
They forced new employees to sign “yellow dog” contracts in which they promise not to participate in a union
They refused collective bargaining
The refused to recognize the unions as representatives of the workers.

17. Two types of work places
Closed Shop- a workplace where ALL employees must belong to a union
Open Shop- a workplace where there is NO UNION
Yellow Dog Contract- promise by employees not to join a union

18. The great upheaval Workers uniting to form labor unions
Then taking action through STRIKES and BOYCOTTS

19. Railroad strike of 1877
the first organized strike in the US; started over a wage cut with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroads
These riots spread across the country to Pittsburg, Chicago, St. Louis
President Hayes actually sent troops to stop the strike
In Pittsburg, the riots became deadly

20. Haymarket riot, 1886 Chicago
They wanted an 8 hour day “8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep, 8 hours for recreation”
Police had to break up a fight between the workers on strike and the scabs
SCABS are people who replace the striking employees at work
8 people arrested, 4 hanged, 1 committed suicide in jail

21. Homestead strike, 1892 Happened at one of Carnegie’s steel plants
Carnegie’s partner, Frick, tried to cut wages while Carnegie was away
STRIKE!!!!
Frick called the Pinkertons (a private police force) to break up the strike
VIOLENCE, several killed

22. Pullman strike, 1894
Pullman- town, school, bank, water system…for his workers
In 1893, he had to lay off some workers and cut wages but kept the rent and food prices the same
Some workers went to complain, they got FIRED!
The union when on strike, so Pullman shut down the plant
Railroad workers joined in the strike in support of the plant workers, shut down rail traffic
Federal government banned strikes that interfered with railroad traffic