Lesson 4 The Rise of the Labor Movement

Lesson 4: The Rise of the Labor Movement • The Big Idea: The expansion of industry prompted laborers to form unions to better their lives • Why It Matters Now: Many of the strategies used today in the labor movement, such as the strike, have their origins in the late 19 th century. • Key Terms and People: Samuel Gompers / Collective Bargaining / American Federation of Labor (AFL) / Eugene V. Debs / Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) / Mary Harris H

• I. Labor Unions Emerge • A. Long Hours and Danger • • Steel mills: Seven-day work weeks Seamstresses: 12 hour days, six day weeks No vacations. No sick leave. No unemployment. No workmen’s comp. Frequent injuries. Child labor Lower pay for women, children and minorities Ex… 1899: Women’s Avg. = $267 per year … Men’s Avg. $498 per year In 1899… Andrew Carnegie made $23 million

• B. Early Labor Organizing • Small unions existed since the late 1700’s • NLU (National Labor Union): First nationwide union (1866) • CNLU formed when African Americans were not permitted in the NLU • 1868: The NLU persuaded Congress to establish an 8 hr. day for government workers. • 1869: Uriah Stephens organized the Knights of Labor (KOL) • • “An injury to one is the concern of all. ” Open to all Promoted “equal pay for equal work” Grew to 700, 000 members at its peak in 1886

• C. The Power of Unions • Greater numbers = greater power • Bread and butter issues: wages, hours & working conditions • Used Collective Bargaining: Negotiations between union officials and management • Strikes or boycotts are used if an agreement cannot be met • Some businesses even had contracts for open or closed shops • As union membership rose, so did the political power of the unions

• II. Union Movements Diverge • A. Craft Unionism • Unions are based on skilled workers of one or more specific trade • Example: Samuel Gompers’ Cigar Maker’s International Union • American Federation of Labor (also lead by Gompers) • Reached agreements on wages, hours and working conditions • Used strikes as a major tactic

• B. Industrial Unionism • Unions including all laborers in a specific industry • • Eugene V. Debs: Attempted to form this style of union American Railway Union Felt the strike was the “weapon of the oppressed” Eventually failed. Did, however, contribute to the rising momentum of unions

• C. Socialism and the I. W. W. • Eugene Debs eventually turned to socialism • Socialism: Belief that the government should control business and property and should equally distribute wealth. • Based on the philosophies of German philosopher Karl Marx • Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) (aka. The Wobblies) • Lead by William “Big Bill” Haywood • Included miners, lumberers, and cannery / dock workers. • Only one major victory (in 1912). Still added to the momentum

• D. Other Labor Activism in the West • 1903: 1, 000 Japanese and Mexican workers strike in California • Sugar Beet and Farm Laborer’s Union of Oxnard • Wyoming: Chinese and Japanese miners fought for equal wages/treatment • Increased overall strength of the movement

• III. Strikes Turn Violent • A. The Great Strike of 1877 • Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Workers (B&O) strike. • • Were protesting their second wage cut in two months 50, 000 miles of freight and passenger traffic stopped for a week Governors argued they were impeding interstate commerce Pres. Rutherford B. Hayes sent federal troops to end the strike

• B. The Haymarket Affair • May 4 th 1886: 3, 000 gathered in Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest police violence A striker had been killed at the Mc. Cormick Harvester plant Police arrived and the crowd began to disperse A bomb was thrown into the police line and they opened fire Multiple officers and strikers were killed The bomber was never caught, but the strike organizers and speakers were convicted • four were executed, one committed suicide, and three were later pardoned • Public opinion of unions would start to sour • • •

• C. The Homestead Strike • Even after Haymarket Square, strikes continued • • • June 29 th, 1892: Henry Clay Frick announces a wage cut Carnegie Steel’s Homestead Plant in PA sees workers strike Frick Hires guard from the Pinkerton Detective Agency He then tries to hire scabs & strikebreakers A riot follows. Three detectives and nine workers are killed Eventually, the U. S. National Guard would be sent in to end the strike

• D. The Pullman Company Strike • • During the Panic of 1893, Pullman laid off 3, 000 of 5, 800 workers It also cut wages by 25% to 50% It did not cut rent. Avg. workers were taking home $6 per week A strike was called and boycotts began Pullman hired strikebreakers and riots began Pres. Grover Cleveland sent in federal troops to end the strike Eugene Debs was arrested. Most strikers were fired. Railroads blacklisted others.

• E. Women Organize • Were barred from most unions • Still demanded equal pay and an end to child labor • Mary Harris Jones: She supported the Great Strike of 1877 and helped organize the UMW. • Suffered through death threats and jail. • 1903: Lead 80 mill worker children with severe injuries to Pres. Theodore Roosevelt’s home. This lead to new child labor laws • Pauline Newman: In 1909, at 16 years old, organized the International Ladies Garment Worker’s Union. Supported the “Uprising of 20, 000” seamstresses

• Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire • • NYC March 25 th, 1911: Fire quickly spread throughout the building All but one door was locked to prevent theft The one remaining door was blocked by fire There were no sprinklers The one fire escape collapsed 146 women were killed in the fire The factory owners were cleared of any charges • Paterson Silk Strike of 1913 • Carrie Golzio & Hannah Silverman held “women only” meetings • Strikers shut down 300 silk mills in Paterson, New Jersey • The strike failed, but showed the increasing strength of women

• F. Management and Government Pressure Unions • Mangers began to fear unions • Many forbade meetings and fired union members • Forced “Yellow Dog Contracts” • In the south, it became common to hire out prison workers for labor • Coal Creek Sage in Tennessee • Mine owners replaced free workers with prisoners • The fired workers began attacking buildings and freeing prisoners • They were arrested, but the practice of hiring out prisoners was stopped • Although strikes and unionism was difficult, momentum grew • By WWI, the AFL had over 2 million workers