Workers UniteWorkers Unite

The WorkforceThe Workforce

Immigrants arrived in big cities and Immigrants arrived in big cities and stayed because they could not afford to stayed because they could not afford to travel any furthertravel any further Spent all their money to get to AmericaSpent all their money to get to America Contract Labor Law:Contract Labor Law: employers paid for employers paid for

passage to US in exchange for labor passage to US in exchange for labor contractscontracts

Working was a family Working was a family affairaffair

Because of low wages, all family Because of low wages, all family members worked for survivalmembers worked for survival By age 12-13, children left school to go to By age 12-13, children left school to go to

workwork Younger children worked if a member of the Younger children worked if a member of the

family was unable to earn wagesfamily was unable to earn wages No public assistance at this time – it No public assistance at this time – it

promoted lazinesspromoted laziness

Organized Labor BeginsOrganized Labor Begins

Poor working conditions and low wages Poor working conditions and low wages drove workers to work together.drove workers to work together. Early labor unions centered around specific Early labor unions centered around specific

tradestrades Later unions tried to unite all workersLater unions tried to unite all workers

Knights of Labor: Knights of Labor: United all workers – men and United all workers – men and women; skilled and unskilledwomen; skilled and unskilled

American Federation of Labor: American Federation of Labor: only skilled only skilled workers; no womenworkers; no women

Goals and StrategiesGoals and Strategies

Most labor unions had 3 goals:Most labor unions had 3 goals: Equal payEqual pay 8-hour work day8-hour work day End to child laborEnd to child labor

Workers used many strategies to Workers used many strategies to improve conditions:improve conditions: Boycott: refuse to buy certain goodsBoycott: refuse to buy certain goods Collective Bargaining: negotiate with Collective Bargaining: negotiate with

employers as a groupemployers as a group Strike: refuse to workStrike: refuse to work

Employers ReactEmployers React

Most employers refused to work with Most employers refused to work with unions.unions. Forbid union meetings on company propertyForbid union meetings on company property Fired union organizersFired union organizers Yellow Dog Contracts: Yellow Dog Contracts: workers agreed not workers agreed not

to join union in exchange for a jobto join union in exchange for a job Blacklisted union organizers – other Blacklisted union organizers – other

companies refused to hire organizerscompanies refused to hire organizers

3 Great Strikes3 Great Strikes

Haymarket Strike: 1886Haymarket Strike: 1886 Cause – workers wanted an 8-hour work dayCause – workers wanted an 8-hour work day The company brought in scabs to replace The company brought in scabs to replace

workersworkers After 4 days of violence, public began to After 4 days of violence, public began to

associate strikes with violenceassociate strikes with violence

3 Great Strikes3 Great Strikes

Homestead, 1882Homestead, 1882 Cause – wage cut at Carnegie SteelCause – wage cut at Carnegie Steel While Mr. Carnegie was on vacation, his While Mr. Carnegie was on vacation, his

associated wanted to prove that he could associated wanted to prove that he could run the company more efficiently.run the company more efficiently.

Pinkertons were called in to break the strikePinkertons were called in to break the strike Called off after a few months as a failureCalled off after a few months as a failure

3 Great Strikes3 Great Strikes

Pullman Strike – 1884Pullman Strike – 1884 Cause – wage cut at Pullman Train Co but Cause – wage cut at Pullman Train Co but

rents and prices remained the same in the rents and prices remained the same in the company town.company town.

Organized by Eugene DebsOrganized by Eugene Debs Got out of hand when it interfered with the Got out of hand when it interfered with the

US MailUS Mail Federal government interfered and sent Federal government interfered and sent

troops to end striketroops to end strike

Early effects of unionsEarly effects of unions

1.1. Courts ruled against striking workersCourts ruled against striking workers

2.2. Federal government denied recognition Federal government denied recognition as legally protected organizationsas legally protected organizations

3.3. Government opposition lasted until after Government opposition lasted until after World War IWorld War I

Labor UnionsLabor Unions