Unions: Workers Organize Workers Respond to Industrialization

Why Did Workers Organize? Work changes from skilled workers in smaller factories to unskilled labor in large corporations Poor Working Conditions and Low Wages Workers organize to demand fair treatment

First Union: Knights of Labor In 1869, Knights of Labor formed Open to all workers, regardless of race, gender, or degree of skill Terrence Powderly leader Favored 8 Hr. day and arbitration for settling labor disputes

Haymarket Incident of 1886 Knights of Labor leaders against strike but locals workers strike anyway. Courts rule against workers & police arrest strikers Police kill 4 unarmed strikers in Chicago Union holds protest meeting in Haymarket Square Bomb explodes; riot breaks out 11 people die and over 100 wounded Union leaders tried for deaths; four convicted and hanged Public turns against unions

American Federation of Labor Knights decline after Haymarket Incident In 1886, Samuel Gompers formed American Federation of Labor Organized as craft unionism, which included skilled workers only Favored strikes Between 1890 &1915, in unionized industries Weekly wages rose Workweek hours fell

Socialism & the IWW Many union activists turned to socialism Extreme socialism is communism (overthrow of the capitalist system) Most socialists NOT communists; just wanted better conditions for workers However in 1905 group of radical unionists formed the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or Wobblies) Headed by William “Big Bill” Haywood

Industrial Unionism Some labor leaders felt that unions should include all laborers – skilled & unskilled – in a specific industry In 1893 Eugene V. Debs formed industrial union – the American Railway Union Most workers were unskilled and semiskilled laborers, but skilled engineers & firemen joined too Used strike as a major weapon

The Great Uprising of 1877 Railroads, during depression & after series of pay cuts, cut wages again B&O RR workers strike President Hayes sends federal troops to protect RR property RR workers in East & Midwest angry & stop work Violence in Pittsburgh when state militia shoots 25 strikers When this news spreads, so does strike Strikes fail but Great Uprising notable because workers cooperated across ethnic lines.

Workers Continue to Strike Hamlin Garland described conditions in Carnegie’s steel mill, “Everywhere…groups of pale, lean men slouched in faded garments, grimy with the soot and grease of the mills…A roar as of a hundred lions, a thunder as cannons…jarring clang of falling iron…!”

The Homestead Strike Steelworkers at Carnegie’s plant strike in 1892, after company president Henry Frick announces pay cuts Hires Pinkerton Detective Agency guards so that he can hire scabs (strikebreakers) Steelworkers fight & force out Pinkertons Keep plant closed until PA National Guard arrives

Pullman Company Strike During Panic of 1893 & economic depression that followed, Pullman Company lays off 3000+ workers, cut wages by 25-50% After paying rent, workers took home under $6 a week Economy improves but Pullman fails to restore wages Eugene Debs, ARU head, asks for arbitration, but Pullman refused. ARU boycotts Pullman trains Pullman hires strikebreakers; strike turns violent; President Cleveland sends in federal troops Eugene Debs jailed & workers blacklisted. Debs embittered by experience; becomes socialist