Labor Brainstorm/Write down as many words or phrases about work as you can think of

Being an average working person during the late 1800’s was not easy!

Piecework This guys is paid per Spindle made! You are paid for ever item produced, not by time. The faster you work, the more you were paid Younger, stronger workers were able to make more This guys is paid per Spindle made!

What makes this Possible? Assembly Line!!!! Division of labor Performed only one task over and over You rarely saw the finished product because you passed it on to someone else to finish What makes this Possible? Assembly Line!!!!

sweatshop Overworked Under paid Poor conditions Many died of malnutrition or disease

women They were assigned to work simple machines Women had NO CHANCE of advancement…meaning, they would never become manager

children Children HAD to work to help their families to survive That meant no school, no playing outside, no toys, no childhood Many, as young as 4, would be put to work for pennies a day

Labor and Industry Do we stand for the poor conditions or do we strike?!?!?!?!

During the industrial period, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer I hate Mondays!

Others decide to just try and improve their working conditions

Labor unions Organization of workers Usually operated on behalf of the worker A TRADE UNION organized workers of a specific trade… like, iron workers or oil workers…

American Federation of Labor “We know to our regret that too often our wives sisters and children are brought into the factories only to reduce the wages of the men- the true heads of the family” Led by Samuel Gompers Consisted of skilled workers only Men only! Boycott! The AFL focused on 3 things: Wages Hours Working Conditions Strike! COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: Workers, as a group, work to negotiate with their employers

Knights of labor A labor union that tried to combine all trades into one union Led by Terrence Powderly They allowed all workers! They allowed women and African Americans to join. Included farmers, shopkeepers, factory workers, office workers… Became unpopular after strikes made them seem dangerous!

Owners hated the unions! No meetings! They would not allow their employees to meet. The FIRED union organizers They forced new employees to sign “yellow dog” contracts in which they promise not to participate in a union They refused collective bargaining The refused to recognize the unions as representatives of the workers.

Two types of work places Closed Shop- a workplace where ALL employees must belong to a union Open Shop- a workplace where there is NO UNION Yellow Dog Contract- promise by employees not to join a union

The great upheaval Workers uniting to form labor unions Then taking action through STRIKES and BOYCOTTS

Railroad strike of 1877 the first organized strike in the US; started over a wage cut with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroads These riots spread across the country to Pittsburg, Chicago, St. Louis President Hayes actually sent troops to stop the strike In Pittsburg, the riots became deadly

Haymarket riot, 1886 Chicago They wanted an 8 hour day “8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep, 8 hours for recreation” Police had to break up a fight between the workers on strike and the scabs SCABS are people who replace the striking employees at work 8 people arrested, 4 hanged, 1 committed suicide in jail

Homestead strike, 1892 Happened at one of Carnegie’s steel plants Carnegie’s partner, Frick, tried to cut wages while Carnegie was away STRIKE!!!! Frick called the Pinkertons (a private police force) to break up the strike VIOLENCE, several killed

Pullman strike, 1894 Pullman- town, school, bank, water system…for his workers In 1893, he had to lay off some workers and cut wages but kept the rent and food prices the same Some workers went to complain, they got FIRED! The union when on strike, so Pullman shut down the plant Railroad workers joined in the strike in support of the plant workers, shut down rail traffic Federal government banned strikes that interfered with railroad traffic