The Rise of Labor Unions Rich versus Poor

The Rise of Labor Unions

Rich versus Poor • By 1890, the richest 9% of Americans held nearly 75% of the national wealth • Many workers began to resent the lavish lifestyles of their rich owners, & began to organize in an effort to establish a better work system

What Did Workers Want? • • • Shorter workdays Higher wages Better working conditions End child labor Collective Bargaining – negotiate as a group w/ employers

The Knights of Labor • National Union • Recruited Skilled & Unskilled Workers • Included Women & African Americans • Emphasized Education & Social Reform

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) • Led by Samuel Gompers • Skilled Workers Only • Used Collective Bargaining as a Strategy

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Unskilled Workers • Radical Socialist Leaders • Violent Strikes

Socialism • Karl Marx— German Philosopher who wrote Communist Manifesto • Denounced capitalism

Socialism • Economic & political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of property & income. • Socialists believe that society, not private individuals, should control a nation’s wealth. That wealth should be distributed equally to everyone.

Reaction of Employers • forbid union meetings • fired union organizers • forced new employees to sign “yellow dog” contracts, making them promise never to join a union or participate in a strike

Reaction of Employers • refused to bargain collectively when strikes occurred • refused to recognize union representatives

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 • Workers protested wage cuts & unsafe conditions • Violent & Unorganized • Pres. Hayes sent federal troops to put down the strike • Employers relied on federal & state troops to repress labor unrest

Haymarket Strike 1886 • National strike of all workers calling for an 8 -hour workday • During a demonstration in Chicago’s Haymarket Square a bomb exploded • Rioting broke out & dozens were killed • 4 anarchists were hanged • The public began to associate unions w/ violence, anarchy & radicalism

Homestead Strike 1892 • Carnegie Steel cut wages in Homestead, PA • Mngr. Henry Frick called in private guards to protect the plant • Daylong gun battle ended w/ several strikers dead • Again, the public condemned strikes & denounced unions as violent

Pullman Strike 1894 • Strike of Pullman Palace Car Factory Workers • Tried to stop railroads from running • Courts ruled illegal b/c it disrupted mail delivery • The courts now supported owners as well