Labor Strikes and Unions

Pgs. 218-220

Going on Strike!

• Going on strike became the labor unions’ most important way of getting factory owners to listen to them.

• Some strikes turned violent!• Violence did not help the unions. • Some labor unions lost their power due to

violence.

Going on Strike!

• In 1886 workers belonging to the Knights of Labor went on strike against the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.

• The union wanted higher wages and an eight-hour workday.

• During one protest meeting, some strikers fought with police in Chicago.

• Suddenly someone threw a bomb!

Going on Strike!

• Seven police officers were killed, and many others were hurt.

• No one knew who threw the bomb, but people blamed the labor union.

• The Knights of Labor soon lost many of its members.

Carnegie Steel Mill Strike

• One of the most violent strikes took place at a Carnegie steel mill in Pennsylvania.

• Henry Frick, a manager at Carnegie’s mill, announced a pay cut for workers.

• The workers went on strike and Mr. Frick fought back.

• He shut down the mill and hired private police to protect it.

Carnegie Steel Mill Strike

• Three hundred police officers arrived at Carnegie’s mill.

• Mr. Carnegie was away in Scotland.• They were met by hundreds of angry

union workers. A fight broke out and seven officers and nine strikers were killed.

• The governor of Pennsylvania sent in soldiers from the National Guard to keep order.

Carnegie Steel Mill Strike

• The strike went on for four months.

• Finally, the union gave up and workers returned to their jobs.

• Many people began to think that the government should help factory workers.

Government and Business

• Workers hoped the strikes would make their lives and working conditions better.

• However, pay was still low and many children still had to work.

• Workers wanted the government to help improve conditions in factories.

• Factory owners did not want the government telling them how to run their businesses.

Government and Business

• Many government leaders agreed with factory owners.

• They believed that businesses helped make the country’s economy strong by producing goods and creating new jobs.

• For industry to grow, businesses had to be free to produce their goods in the best way possible.

Government and Business

• Business leaders did not want the government to get involved.

• They feared the government would regulate their businesses, or control them with laws.

• Business owners wanted as few laws dealing with the operations as possible.