1. Aim: Were unions successful in securing rights for workers?
Labor Unions
Aim: Were unions successful in securing rights for workers?

2. I. Capitalism vs. Socialism
Socialism – the belief that the means of production, or business, should be publicly owned and run by the gov’t
Socialists wanted society’s wealth to be redistributed so that everyone earned what they worked for and deserved

3. II. The Growth of Labor Unions
As industrialization spread, workers formed unions, which united craft workers and common laborers in a particular industry
Knights of Labor (1869) – Organized all working men and women, both skilled and unskilled; also recruited African Americans
pushed for social reforms, equal pay for equal work, an eight-hour day, an end to child labor, and a graduated income tax
Led strikes (stopping work to force employers to meet certain demands)

4. II. The Growth of Labor Unions
American Federation of Labor (1886) – Under the leadership of Samuel
Gompers, AFL organized only skilled workers; more exclusive than KoL
focused on “bread and butter” unionism: wages, hours, and working conditions
Used strikes and boycotts against employers
Pushed for closed shops (companies would only hire union members) and used collective bargaining – workers negotiate as a group with their employers

5. III. Important Strikes of the late 19th Century
Railroad Strike of 1877; Haymarket Affair of 1886; Homestead Steel Strike of 1892; Pullman Strike of 1894
What did they have in common?
They began over wage cuts
They were characterized by violence
Unions, especially Knights of Labor, get bad reputation after Haymarket
The government always sided with business over labor.

6. IV. Government (in)action
A. Supreme Court Cases (Granger cases)
Munn v. Illinois (1877) – States could regulate businesses vital to the public interest
Wabash v. Illinois (1886) – States couldn’t regulate railroads because they constituted interstate commerce
B. Legislation
Interstate Commerce Act (1887) – Attempted to end pools and rebates
RR rates must be fair and public
Interstate Commerce Commission
Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) – Outlawed illegal business combinations (trusts)
Attempted to restore competition
Not enforced – was actually used to break unions.