Steel Workers in Homestead, PA Industrialization created many millionaires The attempt to lower production costs to maximize profits led to low pay and long hours for most workers Steel mill workers usually worked 12 hours a day for six days a week making 16 cents an hour 12 hrs x 6 days x $0.16/hour = $11.52 a week $11.52 a week x 52 weeks = $599.04 a year $600 dollars a year was the poverty line (back then)

Workers’ Housing in Homestead Those who worked in factories outside of cities lived in employer-owned villages called company towns Workers paid their rent back to their employer Homes usually isolated from schools and shopping Workers often paid in “scrip” Currency that can only be used in employer owned stores

The Workforce The majority of workers were white Americans that left rural areas in search of better jobs By 1890, about 1 million women were working in factories Women paid half as much as men About one-third of workers were immigrants Who often took jobs for lower pay A very small number of factory workers were black

Working Conditions Most factories were badly lit and poorly ventilated Owners refused to pay for expensive safety features Working families often sent their children to work By 1900, 2 million children between 10-15 were working in factories

Textile Workers on Strike Low wages, long hours, and dangerous working conditions led workers to band together in hopes of improving conditions Three big worker’s organizations (unions) emerged in this time Knights of Labor American Federation of Labor Industrial Workers of the World

Labor Unions Groups organized to protect the rights, wages, and safety of workers Power of the many workers against wealth of owner Major Tactics: Collective bargaining Strikes Enlisting public support (boycotts) Political work (for getting stronger labor laws)

Knights of Labor Who: Black & white; men & women; skilled & unskilled; immigrants & “natives” (basically everyone) Goal: Improve wages and working conditions, get compensation for work-related injury and equal pay for men and women Success: 700,000 members at height But ceased to exist by 1895

American Federation of Labor Who: Organized only skilled workers with a particular skill This meant mostly semi-educated white men Goal: Higher wages, better conditions “A bigger slice of the capitalist pie” Success: Is still around today

Industrial Workers of the World Who: The ignored segments of the working class Goals: Use strikes and massive work slowdowns to take power away from the capitalists Success: 100,000 members at its height Still around today (but only 900 members)

Owner Tactics to Destroy Unions Fire organizers Blacklists Bribe or buy off organizers Violence (goons & scabs) Government, police, courts Often indebted to the owners Threaten to move the factory Especially common today

Reaction to Unions Strike in Chicago by 8,000 workers turned violent killing 20 workers, 7 policemen, and 4 civilians Strike at Carnegie steel mill killed 16 workers and 8 security guards; the National Guard was called out to restore peace 1894 strike by Pullman Railcar employees shut down rail lines across the country; US Army soldiers sent to clear the strikers