WARM-UPWARM-UP

Write what you’ve learned about Write what you’ve learned about industrial leaders of the time period industrial leaders of the time period (think Rockefeller, Carnegie…) (think Rockefeller, Carnegie…)

Did they exploit workers?Did they exploit workers? How do you think workers would How do you think workers would

eventually react?eventually react? What is a labor union?What is a labor union? What is a strike?What is a strike?

Getting started…Getting started…

Read your textbook from p. 450-455. Read your textbook from p. 450-455. Pay attention to the different labor Pay attention to the different labor unions and the strikes.unions and the strikes.

Labor Unions and Labor Unions and StrikesStrikes

Five Major Labor UnionsFive Major Labor Unions Knights of LaborKnights of Labor

National Labor Union (NLU)National Labor Union (NLU)

American Federation of Laborers (AFL)American Federation of Laborers (AFL)

WOBBLIES (IWW)WOBBLIES (IWW)

American Railway Union (ARU)American Railway Union (ARU)

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor Founded by Uriah S. Stephens Founded by Uriah S. Stephens membership opened to membership opened to

all workers, and most business & professional people. all workers, and most business & professional people. Excluded: lawyers, bankers, liquor dealers, and Excluded: lawyers, bankers, liquor dealers, and professional gamblers.professional gamblers.

Actually WELCOMED women!Actually WELCOMED women!

Not really centralized, met locallyNot really centralized, met locally

Philosophy: 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, Philosophy: 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, wanted long range reform to replace the “wage system” wanted long range reform to replace the “wage system” with a “cooperative system” in which workers themselves with a “cooperative system” in which workers themselves control a large part of the economy.control a large part of the economy.

Secret organization Secret organization Late 1870s order became public Late 1870s order became public and grew to 700,000 members by 1886.and grew to 700,000 members by 1886.

Too big to control Too big to control local chapters launched series of local chapters launched series of strikes that discredited the Union. 1890 membership strikes that discredited the Union. 1890 membership shrunk to 100,000. A few years later, disappeared.shrunk to 100,000. A few years later, disappeared.

National Labor UnionNational Labor Union

Led by William SylvusLed by William Sylvus Only white members allowedOnly white members allowed Had over 100,000 membersHad over 100,000 members Advocated for the 8 hour workdayAdvocated for the 8 hour workday

American Federation of American Federation of Laborers (AFL)Laborers (AFL)

Founded by Samuel GompersFounded by Samuel Gompers

Rejected the AFL’s idea of one labor union for everyone, Rejected the AFL’s idea of one labor union for everyone, instead was an association of essentially autonomous craft instead was an association of essentially autonomous craft unions and represented mainly skilled workers.unions and represented mainly skilled workers.

Generally hostile to organizing unskilled workersGenerally hostile to organizing unskilled workers

FL against women in the workforce all together because they FL against women in the workforce all together because they felt women should be at home, but they did seek equal pay felt women should be at home, but they did seek equal pay for those women who did work and sought women for those women who did work and sought women organizers for industries predominated by women.organizers for industries predominated by women.

Philosophy: Accept capitalism, but secure for the workers a Philosophy: Accept capitalism, but secure for the workers a greater share of capitalism’s material rewards. Objected greater share of capitalism’s material rewards. Objected fundamental economic reform, government protection of fundamental economic reform, government protection of workers. Focused instead on Labor/Management workers. Focused instead on Labor/Management relationships. Better Wages, hours, and working conditions relationships. Better Wages, hours, and working conditions through collective bargaining, but will use strikes if through collective bargaining, but will use strikes if necessary.necessary.

WOBBLIESWOBBLIES Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) First organizers include Eugene Debs, First organizers include Eugene Debs,

Bill Haywood, and Mary Harris JonesBill Haywood, and Mary Harris Jones wanted to organize all workers wanted to organize all workers

everywhere into a everywhere into a single union Never more than Never more than 100,000100,000 members members Conducted numerous strikes, many Conducted numerous strikes, many

with bloodshed!with bloodshed! --Advocated violence --Advocated violence

American Railway UnionAmerican Railway Union

Founded in 1893 by Eugene Debs for Founded in 1893 by Eugene Debs for railroad workersrailroad workers

incorporated a policy of unionizing all incorporated a policy of unionizing all railway workers, regardless of craft railway workers, regardless of craft or serviceor service

Had over 150,000 membersHad over 150,000 members

Four main strikesFour main strikes

Great Railroad Strike of 1877Great Railroad Strike of 1877 Haymarket Square RiotHaymarket Square Riot Homestead StrikeHomestead Strike Pullman StrikePullman Strike

Famous Famous Strikes and Riots:Strikes and Riots:The Great Railroad Strike of The Great Railroad Strike of

18771877 After cutting wages, workers went on strike After cutting wages, workers went on strike

across East Coast across East Coast led to Riots led to Riots

President Hayes called in state militias which President Hayes called in state militias which caused problems caused problems led to over 100 dead before led to over 100 dead before strike ended strike ended

Result: Result: – Weakened railroad unionsWeakened railroad unions– Damaged reputation of labor unions because of the Damaged reputation of labor unions because of the

disruption and failure.disruption and failure.– 10%, strikers destroyed equipment, rioted in the streets. 10%, strikers destroyed equipment, rioted in the streets.

The Great Railroad Strike of The Great Railroad Strike of 18771877

AFL was demanding a 8hr workday for all AFL was demanding a 8hr workday for all Employers, and if not done by May 1, 1886, called Employers, and if not done by May 1, 1886, called for a general strikefor a general strike

Police harassment of workers/strikers killed 4 Police harassment of workers/strikers killed 4 strikers the day before, called for a meeting in strikers the day before, called for a meeting in Haymarket SquareHaymarket Square

Police ordered people to disperse, bomb was Police ordered people to disperse, bomb was thrown (killed 6 officers, 67 injured)thrown (killed 6 officers, 67 injured)

8 anarchists convicted of murder, unjust trial, 8 anarchists convicted of murder, unjust trial, they were scapegoatsthey were scapegoats– 7 sentenced to death7 sentenced to death 1 suicide, 4 executed, 2 terms to 1 suicide, 4 executed, 2 terms to

life in prisonlife in prison

Famous Famous Strikes and Riots:Strikes and Riots:The Haymarket Square RiotThe Haymarket Square Riot

Haymarket Square RiotHaymarket Square Riot

Mid-1880s, steel industry had new production methods, which reduced Mid-1880s, steel industry had new production methods, which reduced companies’ dependence on skilled laborcompanies’ dependence on skilled labor

Carnegie decided to cut wages in his plantsCarnegie decided to cut wages in his plants

Carnegie and managers repeatedly cut wagesCarnegie and managers repeatedly cut wages

Steel workers union called for a strike, head of homestead Henry Clay Steel workers union called for a strike, head of homestead Henry Clay Frick called for 300 Pinkertons guards (strikebreakers)Frick called for 300 Pinkertons guards (strikebreakers)

Battle between strikers and Pinkertons, 3 guards, 10 strikers died, guards Battle between strikers and Pinkertons, 3 guards, 10 strikers died, guards surrendered, but company called in PA National Guard (8.000 troops)surrendered, but company called in PA National Guard (8.000 troops)

Public turned against strikers after Frick assassination attempt and the Public turned against strikers after Frick assassination attempt and the strike was brokenstrike was broken

The Homestead StrikeThe Homestead Strike

The Homestead StrikeThe Homestead Strike

Pullman Palace Car Company built/repaired at company in Pullman, Pullman Palace Car Company built/repaired at company in Pullman, ChicagoChicago

Company built town of Pullman so workers could rent homes from Company built town of Pullman so workers could rent homes from owner, George M. Pullmanowner, George M. Pullman

Panic of 1893 causes Pullman to lower wages, but not rentPanic of 1893 causes Pullman to lower wages, but not rent

Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs, within days thousands Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs, within days thousands of railroad workers in 27 states/territories went on strike = no of railroad workers in 27 states/territories went on strike = no transportation from Chicago to West Coasttransportation from Chicago to West Coast

President Grover Cleveland disliked unions and sent troopsPresident Grover Cleveland disliked unions and sent troops

Union leaders (Eugene V. Debs) were arrested and imprisoned. The Union leaders (Eugene V. Debs) were arrested and imprisoned. The strike collapsed without leadership.strike collapsed without leadership.

The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike

The Pullman StrikeThe Pullman Strike