The Union Strikes BackChapter 13 Sec 3 &4
The Story
All long time ago and in this galaxy there were Robber Barons who worked their workers very hard.
They made them work long days in poor conditions and paid them very little.
Anyone who went against them were Destroyed. (fired)
The Union Emerges
In order to better their positions the workers bonded together and created a Union.
Led by Eugene V. Debs theWorkers bonded together to fightFor better working conditions.
Business reacts
Business leaders like George Pullman resist the unions and fire union makers.
The Union STRIKES back
Unions go on strike (workers stop working) until their demands are met. These strikes would turn into long and sometimes violent battles.
Key Players
George Pullman Eugene V. Debs
Inventor/Industrialist Union LeaderCapitalistSocialist
A Shifting Population
The United States saw a large number of immigrants move into the county
Millions of people flocked to the cities in hopes of finding factory jobs
Working in America
Government employees worked 8 hour work days those that worked in private factories usually worked 12 hour days/6 days a week
Many workers were paid depending on how much they produced rather than their time. This system is called piecework
Many worked in sweatshops
Effective Companies
Factories wanted to make as much money as possible and used the following techniques to do so:
Division of Labor: Workers make one specific part of a product instead of the entire product
Assembly Lines: System where product is made one part at a time repetitively
Layoffs: Workers that were not essential were let go
Assembly Line Video Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rG1JZZ4UkQ
Changing Relationship between Boss and Worker With small companies workers and
management met face to face every day but with large factories management rarely saw the workers and viewed them as interchangeable.
Working Environment
Strict rules with no flexibility. Workers could be fined or fired for: being late, talking or failing to complete a task.
Workers had no say over breaks, hours, pay, assignment
Work environments were often not safe, well lit or clean.
Children made up 5% of the work environment
Socialism
Workers and poor tired of watching the rich get richer began to support the idea of Socialism.
Socialism is a political system where the public owns everything rather than private companies.
Karl Marx is credited with coming up with the idea of Socialism in his book Communist Manifesto.
The Creation of Labor Unions One worker held virtually no
influence but together there voice had to be heard. When workers united together to form share in one goal it created a Union.
Weak Strong
Power of the Union With large number workers could call a strike,
where workers stop working and protest to prevent scabs from coming in.
Scab- Worker that comes in to replace a striking worker.
Collective Bargaining- Unions make a deal with companies for everyone as a whole rather than just one individual.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hqP0c0_gw
Union Demands
Unions fought for:Higher Wages
Shorter Work Days Weekends off Safer work conditions
Breaks in the workday End of Child Labor & More
NFL Players Union
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmFU9iLAaLU
The Knights Of Labor A National Union that looked to bring together
all workers regardless of their skill set.
They recruited women and African Americans that other unions would refuse
Successfully held a strike against the railroads.
Lost popularity when some of their failed strikes turned violent
The American Federation of Labor The AFL was a craft union where
only workers in a specific area could join a union.
Did not let women in because they felt they would drive the prices for their workers down.
Supported boycotts where people would not give money to certain companies.
The Wobblies
Counter union to the AFL
Allowed everyone that would join in
Was radical with many socialist leaders had many violent strikes
Business Reacts
Many companies did not like unions so they..
1. Forbid Union Meetings 2. Fired Union Organizers 3. Forced new employees to sign
“yellow dog” contracts that said they would not join a union
4. Refused to bargain collectively 5. Refused to recognize unions
Union vs. Business
Unions Strike Part 1
Haymarket Strike of 1886- Over an 8 hour workday turned violent when anarchists who opposed all government joined.
The Police came when scabs tried to get in and caused a commotion. One anarchist threw a bomb into a police formation which lead to the Haymarket Riot.
Union Strikes Part 2
Homestead Strike- Carnegie was away and Henry Frick tried to lower wages leading to a strike. Frick hired men to break up the union which lead to a shootout.
People sympathized with the union until an anarchist tried to kill Frick.
Union Strikes Part 3 Pullman Strikes- George Pullman invented the
sleeping railroad car. In order to attract labor he created a town just for his workers.
When times got tough he had to layoff workers and cut wages 25%. When workers complained he fired them causing the union to strike.
They turned to union leader Eugene V. Debs and were winning until the government made them stop claiming they were interfering with the mail.
Recommended