1. Unions
Chapter 14 Section 4

2. Working in US Factories
Machines replaced skilled labor
Unhealthy and dangerous
Assembly line – monotonous
Industrialism brought a dramatic rise in the standard of living
Uneven division of income distributed b/w the wealthy and the working class led to resentment

3. Deflation Deflation – rise in the value of money
Prices fell, which increased the buying power of the workers wages
Wages at the same amount were worth more
Companies cut wages to equal out, workers think companies want same work for less pay
Workers decide they need to organize a union to improve their working conditions
Bargain collectively
Negotiate for higher wages
Negotiate for better work conditions

4. Trade Unions Craft workers b/g to organize trade unions Craft workers
People that had special skills and training
Generally received higher wages
Were more valued by factory owners b/c of their specific skills
Machinists, iron molder, stonecutters, glassblowers, shoe makers, carpenters, etc
Trade unions were limited to craft workers

5. Industrial Unions
Industrial unions – united all craft workers and common laborers in a certain industry
Employers generally regarded industrial unions as illegitimate
Employers saw no reason to negotiate w/ industrial unions b/c they had no skills that made them a valuable group

6. Preventing Unions To prevent unions companies…
Required workers to take oaths or sign contracts promising not to join a union
Hired detectives to go undercover and identify union organizers
If workers tried to organize a union or a strike they were fired and placed on a blacklist
Blacklist – list of troublemakers
Once blacklisted a laborer could only get a job by changing residence, trade, or his name

7. Preventing Unions
If workers formed a union companies used a lockout to break it
Lockout – locked workers out of the property and refused to pay them
If the union called for a strike, the company would hire replacement workers – strikebreakers (scabs)
Strikebreakers/scabs – workers that would take a job from a company when the company’s workers were on strike

8. Industrial Unions
Knights of Labor – the first nationwide industrial union
Demanded an 8 hour workday, equal pay for women, and abolition of child labor
Wanted worker owned factories
Were dedicated to arbitration
A process where an impartial third party helps workers and management reach an agreement
Most all large-scale industrial unions failed, including the Knights of Labor

9. Trade Unions American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Over 20 of the nation’s trade unions merged into one union
Led by Samuel Gompers
Stayed out of politics, rejected socialist and communist ideas
Fight for small gains (higher wages and better work conditions)
Preferred to negotiation rather than strike

10. AFL Goals The AFL had 3 main goals…
Tried to convince companies to recognize unions and to agree to collective bargaining
Pushed for closed shops
Companies could only hire union members
It promoted an 8 hour workday
The AFL was successful but most workers stayed away from unions

11. Women During This Time Many unions excluded women
Women were always paid less than men
Women’s Trade Union League – first national association dedicated to promoting women’s labor issues
The WTUL wanted…
Abolishment of child labor
An 8 hour work day
The creation of a minimum wage
End evening work for women