The Rise of Labor Unions The Rich v

The Rise of Labor Unions

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

The Gulf Between the Rich and the Poor • Socialism—an economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of property and income. • Socialists believe that society, not private individuals, should control a nation’s wealth. That wealth should be distributed equally to everyone.

Socialism • Karl Marx— German Philosopher who wrote Communist Manifesto, which denounced capitalism

What Did Workers Want? • Workers generally wanted: – Shorter workdays – Higher wages – Better working conditions – An end to child labor – Collective Bargaining – negotiate as a group w/ employers

The Knights of Labor • A national union • Recruited skilled and unskilled workers, women, and African Americans • Emphasized education & social reform

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) • Led by Samuel Gompers • Was for skilled workers • Used collective bargaining as a strategy

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Known as “The Wobblies” • Organized unskilled workers • Radical socialist leaders • Violent strikes.

Reaction of Employers Many employers disliked and feared unions. • forbid union meetings • fire union organizers • forcing new employees to sign “yellow dog” contracts, making them promise never to join a union or participate in a strike

Reaction of Employers • refusing to bargain collectively when strikes did occur • refusing to recognize unions as their workers’ legitimate representatives

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 • Workers protested unfair wage cuts & unsafe working conditions. • Was violent and unorganized. • Pres. Hayes sent federal troops to put down the strikes. • Employers relied on federal and state troops to repress labor unrest.

Haymarket Strike 1886 • National strike of all workers calling for an 8 -hour workday • In Chicago’s Haymarket Square, during a demonstration, a bomb was exploded in police formation • A riot broke out, and dozens were killed • Four anarchists were hung • The public began to associate Unions with violence and anarchy and radicalism

Homestead Strike 1892 • Carnegie Steel cut wages in Homestead, PA • Henry Frick called in police to kill strike leaders, in retaliation, strikers attempted to assassinate Frick • Again, the public decried strikes and denounced Unions as violent

Pullman Strike 1894 • Strike of Pullman Railroads, tried to stop the railroads from running • Courts ruled the act of interfering with the railroad illegal, as it disrupted the federal mail • The courts now support owners as well