APUSH Labor Union Review Labor Union Organizations u

APUSH Labor Union Review

Labor Union Organizations u Shoemakers in PA (1790’s) u Mechanics Union (1820’s) u Molly Maguire's in PA (1860’s) u Freemasons (1700’s)

Knights of Labor (1869) – Org. 9 tailors in PA – Secret society – Uriah S. Stephens – Gained influence during Great RR Strike 1877 – 1880’s dropped secrecy & became public – Terrence Powderly—new leader of KOL – Included everyone w/ a job—except bankers, lawyers, gamblers & liquor producers

Aims of the KOL u u u u An eight-hour work day Termination of child labor Termination of the convict contract labor system (the concern was not for the prisoners; the Knights opposed competition from this cheap source of labor) Establishment of cooperatives to replace the traditional wage system and help tame capitalism's excesses Equal pay for equal work Government ownership of telegraph facilities and the railroads A public land policy designed to aid settlers and not speculators A graduated income tax.

Influence of KOL Main strategy—strikes u Successful in Union Pacific strike (1884) & Wabash RR Strike (1885) u Membership rose to over 700, 000 in 1880’s u Haymarket Square Riot (1886) u KOL implicated u “union” = “anarchism” u Membership declines to 100, 000 u Too large, too many differing ideologies (some radical) u

American Federation of Labor (AFL) 1886 Rise of AFL u Led by Samuel Gompers u Rejected Radical Unionization u Promoted union for skilled laborers u Used collective bargaining & strikes as last resorts u Wanted much of the same as KOL u – Focused on higher wages, better workplace environ, & shortened work week – Left out minorities and unskilled laborers

Minorities & Labor Unions u African Americans – Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters u Women – Women’s Trade Union League – International Ladies Garment Workers Union (after Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire-1911)

Success of AFL u AFL becomes the largest and most powerful union in late 1800’s early 1900’s u Combating the ideology of “union” = “anarchism” u Most strikes are unsuccessful—put down by police, state or national guard

Radical Labor Organizations u Wobblies—International the World – Big Bill Haywood u Socialists Workers of

WWI u Labor Unions benefit from WWI u Fed. Gov’t regulates unions—promise to keep union demands—pay, hours, workplace conditions, end of child labor in return for not striking u Women & AA also receive benefits u End of WWI—return to labor problems

Roaring 20’s u Labor unions are hurt due to assembly line (unskilled laborers) u Open shops—refused to give work to members of a union u “welfare capitalism”—internal workplace unions u Booming economy u “Bull” market u Rampant immigration

Great Depression & Unions FDR favors Unions u New Deal Legislation u – NIRA “blanket code”=unconstitutional—”sick chicken” – NRA—creation of National Labor Board— employers must negotiate with legitimate unions – CIO (Committee of Industrial Organization) u Makes unions industry specific u United Auto Workers u SWOC