Big Business and Labor The Workplace, Strikes, and the Rise of Labor Unions Topic 1.3
Monopolies - exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices
Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890 law banning any trust that restrained interstate trade or commerce Interstate Commerce- movement of goods from one state to the other
The Workforce Immigrants Women Children
Piece work Paying factory workers for each finished product, rather than by a salary or hourly wage
Sweatshops Long Hours, low wages, unsafe conditions
Division of labor Breaking down jobs into small, simple, repetitive (and boring) parts
The Work Environment Dirty Dangerous Long Hours
Children at Work Jacob Riis Work was very dangerous for kids Explained the impact of factory work on children in his book Children of the poor Work was very dangerous for kids Dirty work environment led to health problems for kids Children at Work
Kids couldn’t attend school Families needed the money Kids were paid less
People are tired of the Growing Gulf Between the Rich and the Poor Karl Marx, Socialism/Communism– redistribution of wealth, public control of property
Rise of Labor Unions Labor Union- Organization of workers formed to protect the interest of its members Labor unions begin to form to protest worker wages, safety, and long hours
Knights of Labor Skilled and Un-skilled Workers, Women and Minorities Farmers Factory workers Office workers Equal pay for equal work End child labor
American Federation of Labor (AFL) Led by Samual Gompers No Women group of smaller craft unions, only allowed skilled labor Most exclusive union
Wobblies Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) or Wobblies Unskilled labor only Most radical union
Eugene V. Debs – anti-violence labor activist Later became a socialist Ran for President 5 times!
Reactions Firing, forbidding, yellow dog contracts, (promised to never join a union or participate in a strike) refusing collective bargaining, refusing to recognize
Railroad Strike of 1877 First major strike!! Prompted by wage cuts and increased safety hazards Workers respond with violence President Rutherford B Hays sends in Federal Troops
Haymarket Riot - 1886 National demonstration 8 hour day Strikes in several cities SCABS VS STRIKERS Anarchists – gave speeches against “factory lords” Violence erupts, strikers and police are killed 8 Anarchists are arrested, and four are hung
Homestead Strike – 1892 Strikers vs. Wage cuts in a Carnegie owned steel mill Carnegie’s 2nd in Command (Henry Frick) cuts wages while Carnegie is out of the country
US Steel calls in the Pinkertons A private police force known for their ability to break strikes shootout ensues
Public sympathize with the strikers until the anarchists arrive and attempt to assassinate Frick The public begins to associate unions and strike with anarchists and violence
Pullman Strike – 1894 Created luxury sleeping car Larger than existing railroad cars Pullman built a model city to attract the best workers Company town Owned by the business and rented out to employees Wage cuts lead to protest Strikes spread to the whole nation, disrupting the mail service
Pullman appeals to the Federal Government for help Government helps because the strikers are interfering with the mail. This sets the pattern of government response to strikes for years to come.