Organized Labor in the Gilded Age Factory Working

Organized Labor in the Gilded Age

Factory Working Conditions �Child labor � 12 hour workdays � 6 workdays/week �Accidents �Company towns

Textile Mills in North Carolina

“The Stretch-Out” - More work - In less time - for less $$

LN 4. 2 Organized Labor Main Idea: During the late 1800’s workers organized and formed _______ in response to ____working conditions.

I. Overview Purpose 1. unions were created to _______ workers join to push for ________ higher wages and better working conditions _________ collective bargaining 2. unions try to use ___________, to pressure business leaders strikes 3. ________ are used as a last result B. Obstacles 1. business leaders used violence ______ to break up strikes 2. courts used ________ to stop strikes injunctions C. Public Reaction 1. public blamed violence on _________ unions / workers and viewed them as too radical. A.

II. Unions Knights of Labor – 1869 The _____ union in the U. S. first Allowed _______ and ______ skilled unskilled workers B. American Federation Labor Samuel Gompers 1. founded by _________ bread and butter issues 2. focused on ______________ (hours and wages) skilled 3. only allowed _______ workers C. International Workers of the World radical 1. considered the most _______ all workers 2. welcomed _____ strikes 3. used _______ often A. 1. 2.

III. Strikes - Haymarket Strike 1886 1. led by Knights _________, of Labor goal 8 hour work day bomb 2. protesters threw a _____ and killed a policeman, led to a violent riot union 3. damaged public blamed violence on _______, the riot ______ their reputation B. Pullman Strike 1894 Eugene Debs 1. railway workers organized by ________ injunction 2. courts issue an ______Socialist to stop strike 3. Debs goes on to organize the ______ party A.

Gastonia, NC � Loray Mills –largest employer in Gaston County � Mill owners implemented “The Stretch Out” � Ella May Wiggins – mother who began to organize � Used song as a protest strategy � Grievances (what the workers wanted): � higher wages ($20/week minimum) � 40 hour work-week � Equal pay for women � Stop “the stretch out” � Recognize the union Police and mill owners used violence to stop the strike, killing Ella May. Her murderers were found not guilty despite over 50 eyewitness reports.

Write your own strike song! Or rap! Your song/rap must: Be at least 15 lines long Include what grievances (complaints) you have as a worker that are causing you to strike Include what changes you would like to see Encourage your fellow striking workers