Mr. Wells Hickory Ridge HS

Labor Unions EQ: Why were they developed? Working conditions: unsanitary, dangerous Wages: too low Hours: too long, 12 hour days Child Labor: no school, cruelty (low pay, long hours)

The Changing American Labor Force

Child Labor - Early 1800s: ages 7-12 made up 1/3 of workforce in US factories : Pennsylvania establishes age of 12 to work in silk, cotton, wool mills : Many states adopt 10 hr. workday for children : 1/5 of all American children were employed : Congress prohibits labor under 18 Child Labor - Early 1800s: ages 7-12 made up 1/3 of workforce in US factories : Pennsylvania establishes age of 12 to work in silk, cotton, wool mills : Many states adopt 10 hr. workday for children : 1/5 of all American children were employed : Congress prohibits labor under 18

Child Labor

“Galley Labor”

The Molly Maguires - Secret Irish organization in coal fields of Pa. - Striking because of a 20% pay reduction The Molly Maguires - Secret Irish organization in coal fields of Pa. - Striking because of a 20% pay reduction

The Molly Maguires (1875) James McParland

Labor Unrest:

The Great Railroad Strike of Baltimore & Ohio railroad workers protest 2 nd wage cut in two months - President Rutherford B. Hayes intervenes by sending in federal troops saying strike was impeding interstate commerce The Great Railroad Strike of Baltimore & Ohio railroad workers protest 2 nd wage cut in two months - President Rutherford B. Hayes intervenes by sending in federal troops saying strike was impeding interstate commerce

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Homestead Steel Strike (1892) Steel workers went on strike at the Carnegie Steel Company’s plant in Pennsylvania Homestead Steel Works

Pinkerton Agents - used to infiltrate unions and to keep strikers and unionists out of factories. (The Homestead Strike) - used as guards in coal, iron, and lumber disputes in Illinois, Michigan, NY, Pa. Pinkerton Agents - used to infiltrate unions and to keep strikers and unionists out of factories. (The Homestead Strike) - used as guards in coal, iron, and lumber disputes in Illinois, Michigan, NY, Pa.

The Corporate “Bully-Boys”: Pinkerton Agents

Management vs. Labor “Tools” of Management “Tools” of Labor  “scabs”  P. R. campaign  Pinkertons  lockout  blacklisting  yellow-dog contracts  court injunctions  open shop  boycotts  sympathy demonstrations  informational picketing  closed shops  organized strikes  “wildcat” strikes

A Striker Confronts a SCAB!

Trade Union—group of workers organized principally for the purpose of increasing wages and improving conditionsTrade Union—group of workers organized principally for the purpose of increasing wages and improving conditions Craft Union—union that admits only workers of a particular trade, skill, or occupationCraft Union—union that admits only workers of a particular trade, skill, or occupation Video: Union Organization

The Knights of Labor  Founded secretly in 1869 by Uriah Stephens  Grouped workers by industry, not by trade or skill  Women and African Americans allowed membership  Chinese excluded

Goals of the Knights of Labor ù 8 hour workday. ù Use arbitration instead of strikes ù Worker-owned factories. ù Abolition of child and prison labor. ù Increased circulation of greenbacks. ù Equal pay for men and women. ù Safety codes in the workplace. ù Prohibited hiring foreign labor.

Haymarket Riot (1886) - May 4 th ,000 people in Chicago protest killing of striker at harvester plant by police - bomb tossed, police open fired. - 7 officers & several strikers killed - Result: Public turns against labor movement Haymarket Riot (1886) - May 4 th ,000 people in Chicago protest killing of striker at harvester plant by police - bomb tossed, police open fired. - 7 officers & several strikers killed - Result: Public turns against labor movement

Haymarket Riot (1886) McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.

Governor John Peter Altgeld - Gov. of Illinois: Criticized because he pardoned 3 men convicted of bombing Governor John Peter Altgeld - Gov. of Illinois: Criticized because he pardoned 3 men convicted of bombing

The American Federation of Labor: 1886 Samuel Gompers

How the AF of L Would Help the Workers ù favored the skilled worker. ù Maintained a national strike fund. ù Evangelized the cause of unionism. ù Prevented disputes among the many craft unions. ù Mediated disputes between management and labor. (Called collective bargaining) ù Pushed for closed shops.

A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL A “Company Town”: Pullman, IL

The Pullman Strike of ,000 workers laid off - wage decrease 25-50% - workers went on strike - Pullman hires strikebreakers (scabs) - Violence breaks out - Pres. Cleveland send in troops - striking workers were fired or blacklisted The Pullman Strike of ,000 workers laid off - wage decrease 25-50% - workers went on strike - Pullman hires strikebreakers (scabs) - Violence breaks out - Pres. Cleveland send in troops - striking workers were fired or blacklisted

The Pullman Strike of 1894

President Grover Cleveland If it takes the entire army and navy to deliver a postal card in Chicago, that card will be delivered!

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory 1911 in NYC NYC – Fire in clothing factory – All doors locked except one – women die – owners acquitted of manslaughter manslaughter – public outraged – NY creates task force to study working conditions

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Video Clip

The Socialists Eugene V. Debs

Eugene V. Debs ( ) – –One of the leaders of the IWW – –5 time Socialist Party candidate for President of the U.S. Socialists believe that the means of production should be owned by the workers, not the rich minority

International Workers of the World (“Wobblies”)

“Big Bill” Haywood of the IWW  Violence was justified to overthrow capitalism.

The Hand That Will Rule the World  One Big Union

Mother Jones: “The Miner’s Angel”  Mary Harris.  Organizer for the United Mine Workers.  Founded the Social Democratic Party in  1903, led 80 mill children to home of T. Roosevelt demanding child labor laws.

Labor Union Membership

Workers Benefits Today

Right-to-Work States Today

Source Doc Wells – Hickory Ridge HS, NC Susan M. Pojer -Horace Greeley HS, NY Source Doc Wells – Hickory Ridge HS, NC Susan M. Pojer -Horace Greeley HS, NY