2. Labor Unions and Strikes Goal 5.3

3. Knights of Labor The Great RxR strike was a failure. Workers decided that they should unite. Knights of Labor – first nationwide industrial union. Accepted all labor types. Leader was Terrance Powderly There demands – 8 hr. workday, = pay for women, abolition of child labor, worker-owned factories. Used strikes and had great success. In one year membership grew from 100,000 to 700,000 people.

4. Haymarket Riot Their was a nationwide strike on May 1. In Chicago, things turned violent. Police and strikers clashed and one worker dead. On May 3, workers in Chicago met in Haymarket Square to protest killing. 3,000 people gathered to hear speeches. Police enter square and someone threw bomb. Police open fire and workers shot back. 8 people (German immigrants and anarchist) were arrested. No one knew who threw bomb but all 8 were convicted and 4 executed. This incident hurt Knights of Labor because one of the men arrested was a member. Membership declined.

5. Pullman Strike Pullman was a company in Illinois that made Pullman cars for trains. It was a company town and all company workers must live there and buy supplies from company towns. Depression caused Pullman to cut wages. Hard to pay rent and buy supplies. 3 workers complained and were fired. Others decided to strike. Management decided to have mail cars attached to Pullman cars. If they refused to move trains with Pullman cars, they were interfering with the delivery of US Mail, violation of Federal Law. President Grover Cleveland sent in troops to end strike. Court also issued an injunction to end strike. Strike ended.

6. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Sewing company. Lock doors to keep women from stealing fabric. 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in NY caught fire and 150 dead b/c of no way out. Unions called for strict building codes and fire hazards