Weapons of Labor and Management Weapons of Unions

Weapons of Labor and Management

Weapons of Unions Collective Bargaining - Union members negotiated conditions with management n Arbitration – Settling legal issues outside of the courts n Strike – Refusing to work n Picketing – Protesting outside of factory to stop others from going in n Boycott – Refuse to buy/use products from that factory n

Weapons of Management n n n Blacklist – To make sure that workers would not find jobs anywhere else Lockout – Lock workers out of work so they can’t be paid Yellow Dog Contract – Part of contract NOT to join labor union Strikebreakers (Scabs) - Brought in to keep production of factory going Injunction – Court order to return to work/not strike

Early Labor Unions

Knights of Labor n n Membership – over 700, 000 members Leaders - Terence Powderly Goals – Social reforms (8 -hour work day, no child labor, opportunities for women) Tactics – Strikes

American Federation of Labor (AFL) n n Membership – One Million Leader – Samuel Gompers Goals – Immediate changes (better hours, wages, conditions) Tactics – “Bread and Butter” (peaceful bargain negotiations)

Great Railway Strike n n n Started because of decrease in pay President Hayes used the army to put down the strike Resulted in little change

Homestead Strike n n Steel workers in Carnegie's plant 16 people killed National Guard ended the strike Fewer than 25% of striking workers would get their job’s back

Haymarket Riot n n n Ended in a bomb blast Knights of Labor blamed even though they had no direct connection 8 police officers and a number of civilians perished

Pullman Strike n n Railway manufacturing strike Shut-down railroads all over the nation President Cleveland sent in Federal troops Government favored interests of business over labor