UnionLeaderBeliefTypes of WorkersStrikes American Federation of Labor Samuel Gompers/Eugene Debs Bread and butterism- worries only about wages, working hours Skilled laborers and craftsmen No strikes Knights of Labor “Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor” Terrence PowderlyRejects socialism but hopes to achieve, end of child labor, 8 hour work day, government ownership of railroads and telegraphs, better pay Unskilled labor Union Pacific Railroad Strike- Labor strike against Union and Missouri Pacific Railroads, state militias sent Wabash Railroad Strike- national railroad strike against Gould and his Wabash railroad Great Railroad Strike of 1877-strike against major railroads, state militias are dispatched, Hayes later sends entire army Haymarket Strike- violent strike that led to bombs and the shooting of police officers Homestead Strike- Union workers with assistance from the KoL walk out of Carnegie’s plants when he attempted to force yellow dog contracts. He responded by locking them out, hiring Pinkerton mercenaries and eventually calling the state militia. American Railway UnionEugene DebsUnionize all railroad workers Combination of skill and unskilled labor Pullman Strike- wages are cut for workers for Pullman Palace Cars, Pullman company hired scabs, including large numbers of African Americans (makes race an issue). The United States marshals and army are dispatched to end the strike Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions Samuel GompersMarixism, Socialism, government ownership of railroads, 8 hour work day, end of child labor, legal incorporation of unions, compulsory education for children Combination of all the unions, especially KoL Haymarket Strike Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) Mother Jones, Eugene DebsSocialism, anarchism, hoped for all workers to band together and for the abolishment of the wage system, formed in opposition to the AFoL ALL peopleLawerence Textile Strike (1912), Paterson Silk Strike (1913)

Labor LawYearDefinitionEffect Sherman Anti Trust Act1890/HarrisonRequires US government to investigate and pursue trusts. This remains unenforced until Teddy Roosevelt Unions are considered trusts and are some of the only victims of the law. Clayton Anti Trust Act1914/TaftA more aggressive version of the Sherman Antitrust, specifically prohibits certain behaviors Unions are specifically mentioned as not existing as trusts! Peaceful boycotts and strikes are ok. Wagner Act/National Labor Relations Act 1935/FDRLimits the manners with which employers can react to strikes and boycotts. Creates National Labor Relations Board. Unions may collectively bargain, employers have to bargain with leader of workers Fair Labor Standards Act / Wages and Hours Bill 1938/FDROutlawed child labor, set minimum wage Unionists had been working since the mid 1800s at ending child labor. This is the first landmark bill that really mattered. Taft Hartley Act/The Labor Management Relations Act 1947/Passed over Truman’s vetoProhibits closed union shop, secondary boycotts, mass picketing States (like Texas) are also allowed to pass right to work laws. This is a serious blow to the labor movement and was called the “slave labor law” by many high ranking union officials. Smith Connally Anti Strike Act/War Labor Disputes Act 1943/over FDR’s vetoAllowed the federal government to seize and operate industries in which strikes negatively affected wartime production. Power allowed the FEPC to force the hiring of African Americans, the US also nationalized railroads and coal outp Equal Pay Act1963/JFKOwners cannot limit pay based on sex, “equal pay for equal work” Monumental step in women’s rights and the labor movement