The Triumph of Industry ( ) The Organized Labor Movement –Workers Endure Hardships Factory Work –Factory owners maximize profit by employing people who would work for lowest wages –Workers generally worked hours per day, 6 days a week –(1900) Average wages for factory work were 8 cents (men), 5 cents (women), 3 cents (children) per hour –Factories usually poorly lit, over-heated, badly ventilated, excessively noisy – Accidents common with faulty equipment and poor training most common causes

The Triumph of Industry ( ) –Workers Endure Hardships (Cont.) Families in the Workplace –Industrialization led to more jobs opening to women/ children –Children as young as 7 years-old went to work to help families live –(1900) 20% of children between ages of work in factories

The Triumph of Industry ( ) –Workers Endure Hardships (Cont.) Living in a Company Town –Most laborers forced to live in company towns close to worksites –Workers forced purchase all food and goods from a company store on credit for high interest –On payday, most of worker’s wages owed back to his/her employer –Workers who left job before paying back loan faced arrested/imprisonment; termed factory work “wage slavery” –Minority workers (African-Americans, Chinese, Mexican-Americans) segregated in separate towns

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Labor Unions Form –Collective Bargaining – negotiating as a group for higher wages and better working conditions Strike – Workers band together and agree to cease work until employers met their demands

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Labor Unions Form (Cont.) –(1834) National Trades Union – First Labor Union in the United States Open to workers in any trade it met stiff opposition from employers as a treat to the business and profits Union failed by the 1840s and no further union activity occurs until economic depression of 1880s

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Labor Unions Form (Cont.)(1869) –(1869) Knights of Labor – Founded by Uriah Stephens it also took all skilled or unskilled trade workers as members Active in recruiting African-American workers which alienated some white members Operated as secret society with goal of replacing capitalism with worker run business –(1881) Terence Powderly takes over union and grows it to 700,000 men and women of all races and ethnicities Uses boycotts /negotiations with employers in attempt to win better wages/work conditions Failed series of strike ends union in 1890s

The Triumph of Industry ( ) American Federation of Labor (AFL) –(1886) – Labor activist Samuel Gompers becomes the head of America’s first craft union (skilled workers) Each local affiliate retained control of their area, but gained collective bargaining leverage on a national level through the AFL Gompers set high dues for membership, but used the money to set up funds for striking workers and a pension plan for retirees AFL fought for higher wages, shorter working hours, and better working conditions AFL fought for workplaces where only union workers could be hired (controversial, but welcomed by members)

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Strikes Rock the Nation –Haymarket Riot (1886) Riot began in Chicago after the Knights of Labor called for national strike for 8-hour work day Rioting began when city government bought in police to break up striking workers Bomb that killed a policeman led to more violence in which dozens on both side were killed

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Strikes Rock the Nation –Haymarket Riot (1886) (Cont.) Eight strike organizers arrested for murder –Four convicted and executed, three other pardoned by governor, one committed suicide in jail Legacy of strike was troublesome for unions –The Knights of Labor who organized the strike disbanded shortly after –The press and many Americans turned against radical union activity –Employers (often backed by the government) became more bold in standing up to union organization, activity, and in opposing strikes –Violence would mark future strike in many industries

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Strikes Rock the Nation (Cont.) –Homestead Steel Strike (1892) Strike called by steel workers against Carnegie Steel in response to Carnegie’s cutting of workers wages by 25% Carnegie calls in Pinkerton Detective Agency who kill and injure dozens of striking workers in violent clashes that last two weeks Public opinion against strike caused union to call off strike; steelworkers union severely damaged for years Legacy: Future strikes led to government sending in troops and militia to break up striking workers

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Strikes Rock the Nation (Cont.) –Pullman Railroad Car Strike (1894) Pullman followed Carnegie’s lead by cutting work hours and pay of workers by 25% Local union delegation sent to negotiate with Pullman fired and owner locked out workers Workers turned for help to American Railway Union headed by Socialist Eugene V. Debs Striking American Railway Union members confront Illinois National Guard troops in Chicago during the Pullman Strike

The Triumph of Industry ( ) –Pullman Railroad Car Strike (1894) (Cont.) Debs called for nationwide strike and 300,000 railroad workers respond Railroad owners call strike on President Cleveland to halt strike –Call it illegal because it was a “disruption of free trade” Cleveland ordered in federal troops to end the strikes Debs arrested and convicted of “conspiring to halt interstate commerce” Strike ends with another defeat for workers & organized labor

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Mary Harris “Mother” Jones –Became labor organizer in 1871 after husband/4 children died of yellow fever and business burned –Left Knights of Labor in 1880s to help form the United Mine Workers Union –Arrested and jailed over 200 times (once for murder) over 50 years career –Called “the most dangerous woman in America” by W.Va Senator and “grandmother of all agitators” by oil- magnate John D. Rockefeller

The Triumph of Industry ( ) Legacy and Effects of the Labor Movement –Early victories for employers/industrialists set important trend as America moved into the 20 th century Employers frequently sought governmental and judicial intervention to halt union activity (especially strikes) Federal government frequently sided with employers –Denys unions recognition and protection –Effectively halts true labor reforms for next 30 years Industrialists/workers/governments continually clashed of labor issues –Contract negotiations, strike, labor legislation become a way of life for American industry