1. Unit 5
Labor Movement

2. Workers Face New Problems
Impersonal Conditions
Unpleasant living conditions
Long Hours
Lack of Advancement Opportunity
Boring, repetitive tasks
Periodic Unemployment
Low Wages
Child Labor
Dangerous Conditions

3. Workers Organize Union Goals
Obtain higher wages and better working conditions
Workers could strike to force a shut down of the facilities and make owners meet their demands of higher salaries and better working conditions
“Mutual aid” societies
Union members would contribute to special funds to help other union members in times of need
Place pressure on government
Unions also pressured government officials to vote in favor of their demands by getting union members to all vote for politicians that sympathized with them

4. National Voice The Knights of Labor
Founded in 1869 by Terrence Powderly
Skilled and unskilled workers were encouraged to join, and African Americans, women, and farmers were welcome to join
They demanded an 8 hour work day, higher wages, and safer working conditions. They also opposed child labor, and wanted equal pay for women and restrictions on immigration

5. American Federation of Labor
Started in 1881 by Samuel Gompers, the organization changed it’s name to American Federation of Labor in 1886
Membership was restricted to skilled workers
Women were not admitted, and African Americans were often excluded
The AFL wanted an 8 hour work day, better working conditions, higher pay, and a “closed shop” policy

6. Labor Union Tactics
Unions created a “picket line” to draw public attention to their cause. Also to prevent temporary workers from entering the facility
Workers would contribute to a strike fund, so they would have a little income while on strike

7. Management Responses
Management used strike-breakers: temporary workers to take the place of union workers
Management would fire union workers that went on strike
Management would lockout the workers
Management forced workers to sign “yellow dog” contracts
Management would “blacklist” union workers
Management used private detectives to spy on their employees
Management would often seek an injunction

8. Role of Government
Reasons government tended to side with business owners in the late 19th century
Small # of union workers, and public opinion did not support unions
Unions were viewed as violent, and supporting European immigrant ideas
Businesses contributed to political campaigns
Laissez faire – believed business had the right to hire / fire anyone they wanted to
Felt strikes could be disruptive and dangerous to communities, and they needed to protect private property

9. Haymarket Riot (1886)
Nationwide strike on May 1, 1886 – this led to a rally in Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4th
Police tried to disperse the crowd, when a bomb was thrown from the crowd killing 1 police officer. Ultimately, 6 more police and 4 protesters were killed that evening
8 protesters were put on trial and convicted: 4 were hung, 1 committed suicide, 2 given life sentences, and 1 given a shorter sentence
This incidence gave the unions a reputation of violence, and the Knights of Labor dissolved soon afterward

10. Homestead Strike (1892)
Andrew Carnegie and Henry Frick were determined to break the union when it came time for a new contract to be negotiated
Frick made unrealistic offers and when the union rejected them, he locked the workers out from the steel mill at Homestead
Frick hired Pinkerton detectives to reopen the mill
The state militia was called in to break through the picket line and allow strike-breakers “scabs” to work in the mill
Members of the steel workers union were fired and “blacklisted”
The steel union collapsed

11. Pullman Strike (1894)
George Pullman owned Pullman, Illinois – a company town
Pullman lowered his workers wages, but refused to lower the rent and food prices, so his workers went on strike
Eugene Debs helped form the
American Railway Union, and encouraged his members not to
handle trains with Pullman cars
The strike virtually shut down railroads in the western U.S.
President Cleveland intervened and sent in federal troops to break up the strike
In 1895, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court injunction ending the strike. This destroyed the American Railway Union, and Eugene Debs was arrested, serving 6 months in prison

12. Ideology
Capitalists – Favored a market based economic system in which individuals or corporations privately own the means of production
Social Darwinists – Believed that humans compete for survival and that those who are naturally superior will meet with the greatest success
Communists – Led by Karl Marx, and called for violent revolution by workers (proletariat) to overthrow the “bourgeoisie” and establish a classless society
Socialists – Favored government ownership of the means or production to improve conditions for workers
Anarchists – Favored a radical political theory opposing all forms of government in favor of self-governing communities