Unions and Strikes 1877 to Unions and Strikes 1877 to 18941894

A. Workers felt like they were losing out in the late 1800s.A. Workers felt like they were losing out in the late 1800s.

B. Profits were high for many industrialists, but wages B. Profits were high for many industrialists, but wages didn’t rise as impressively…workers responded by forming didn’t rise as impressively…workers responded by forming unions. unions. 1. Most of which were unsuccessful up until 1900 because of 1. Most of which were unsuccessful up until 1900 because of

the violence connected with them. the violence connected with them.

C. In 1900 the average industrial worker made 22c an hour C. In 1900 the average industrial worker made 22c an hour and worked 59 hours per week.and worked 59 hours per week.

D. In 1873 there was a recession. Hard times hit workers D. In 1873 there was a recession. Hard times hit workers the hardestthe hardest

1877 Railroad Strike1877 Railroad Strike

A. 1877 The Baltimore and Ohio A. 1877 The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad announced a 10% wage Railroad announced a 10% wage reduction at the same time that it reduction at the same time that it announced a 10% dividend to announced a 10% dividend to stockholdersstockholders

B. Angry brakemen in West Virginia, B. Angry brakemen in West Virginia, whose wages had dropped from $70 whose wages had dropped from $70 a month to $30, went on strikea month to $30, went on strike

1877 Railroad Strike1877 Railroad Strike

““We eat our hard bread and tainted We eat our hard bread and tainted meat two days old on the sooty cars meat two days old on the sooty cars up the road, and when we come up the road, and when we come home, find our children gnawing home, find our children gnawing bones and our wives complaining bones and our wives complaining that they cannot even buy hominy that they cannot even buy hominy and molasses for food”.and molasses for food”.

1877 Railroad Strike1877 Railroad Strike C. The strike spread to Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. C. The strike spread to Pittsburgh, Chicago, St.

Louis and San Francisco. Nearly 100,000 workers Louis and San Francisco. Nearly 100,000 workers walked off the job. Militiamen fired on strikers in walked off the job. Militiamen fired on strikers in Pittsburgh, killing 20Pittsburgh, killing 20

D. Strikers responded by reducing an area of two D. Strikers responded by reducing an area of two miles along a railroad track in Pittsburgh to miles along a railroad track in Pittsburgh to smoldering rubble. The railroad had sustained smoldering rubble. The railroad had sustained damages of over $2 milliondamages of over $2 million

E. This frightened the upper classes and the E. This frightened the upper classes and the strike was put down by local militia and federal strike was put down by local militia and federal troops.troops.

1877 Railroad Strike1877 Railroad Strike

Industry and UnionsIndustry and Unions A. Generally, industrial leaders did NOT like unionsA. Generally, industrial leaders did NOT like unions

B. Industrial leaders followed various tactics to get rid B. Industrial leaders followed various tactics to get rid of unions:of unions:

Yellow dog contractsYellow dog contracts blacklistingblacklisting

C. Many Americans did not like unions…they were C. Many Americans did not like unions…they were seen as un-American. Unions were more common in seen as un-American. Unions were more common in Europe, and some immigrants came over with radical Europe, and some immigrants came over with radical beliefs:beliefs: MarxismMarxism AnarchismAnarchism

1886 Haymarket Square 1886 Haymarket Square RiotRiot

A. By 1885 the Knights of Labor had grown to become the A. By 1885 the Knights of Labor had grown to become the USA’s biggest union. Its members believed that society had USA’s biggest union. Its members believed that society had to change. In the future, the US would not be divided into to change. In the future, the US would not be divided into owners and workers…everyone would be a producer.owners and workers…everyone would be a producer. 1. It was open to anyone (including African-Americans and 1. It was open to anyone (including African-Americans and

women). Only lawyers and saloon keepers were not allowed to women). Only lawyers and saloon keepers were not allowed to join.join.

B. In 1885 it sponsored a strike that stopped a 20% B. In 1885 it sponsored a strike that stopped a 20% reduction in wages on three railroads owned by Jay Gouldreduction in wages on three railroads owned by Jay Gould

In Chicago, on May 1, various working groups sponsored a In Chicago, on May 1, various working groups sponsored a protest for an 8 hour day. protest for an 8 hour day. On May 4 a rally was to be held in Haymarket Square, ChicagoOn May 4 a rally was to be held in Haymarket Square, Chicago

1886 Haymarket Square 1886 Haymarket Square RiotRiot

D. About 3,000 workers D. About 3,000 workers gathered on a drizzly gathered on a drizzly eveningevening

E. Police ordered the E. Police ordered the crowd to disperse. crowd to disperse. Someone threw a bomb Someone threw a bomb into the police, killing into the police, killing several policemen and several policemen and members of the crowd…All members of the crowd…All hell broke loosehell broke loose

F. What do you notice F. What do you notice about the poster?about the poster?

1886 Haymarket Square 1886 Haymarket Square RiotRiot

G. When the melee ended, seven G. When the melee ended, seven policemen and four civilians were deadpolicemen and four civilians were dead

H. News of the riot provoked anti-union / H. News of the riot provoked anti-union / anti-immigrant feelinganti-immigrant feeling

I. Eight men went on trial. It became I. Eight men went on trial. It became clear that they were being tried for their clear that they were being tried for their ideas NOT their actions, as the police ideas NOT their actions, as the police could not link them to the crimecould not link them to the crime

Four hanged, One suicide, three imprisoned for life (later pardoned)

J. Effects of the RiotJ. Effects of the Riot Effectively stooped the 8 hour day Effectively stooped the 8 hour day

movement (for now)movement (for now)

Destroyed the Knights of Labor, who Destroyed the Knights of Labor, who became associated with anarchism and became associated with anarchism and violenceviolence

We commemorate May 1 as “Labor Day”!We commemorate May 1 as “Labor Day”!

The AFL EmergesThe AFL Emerges A. After the collapse of the Knights of Labor, A. After the collapse of the Knights of Labor,

the next union to emerge was the American the next union to emerge was the American Federation of LaborFederation of Labor

B. This was a collection of B. This was a collection of trade unionstrade unions led by led by Samuel Gompers, a cigar maker from NYSamuel Gompers, a cigar maker from NY

C. Gompers believed in pure and simple C. Gompers believed in pure and simple unionismunionism Pure = only skilled workers could joinPure = only skilled workers could join Simple = focus on wages and hours…don’t try to Simple = focus on wages and hours…don’t try to

remake society like the Knights of Labor had doneremake society like the Knights of Labor had done

1894 Pullman Strike1894 Pullman Strike A. In 1893 there was a depression. Pullman A. In 1893 there was a depression. Pullman

Company made luxury “sleeping train Company made luxury “sleeping train carriages”carriages”

B. After the 1877 strike, Pullman moved his B. After the 1877 strike, Pullman moved his company away from the city center of Chicago. company away from the city center of Chicago. He bought 4300 acres of land outside of He bought 4300 acres of land outside of Chicago.Chicago.

C. He built a company town, which was clean C. He built a company town, which was clean and orderly. His workers were able to rent the and orderly. His workers were able to rent the fine homes. But they had to pay for it. Pullman fine homes. But they had to pay for it. Pullman rents were 10-20% higher than average rents.rents were 10-20% higher than average rents.

1894 Pullman Strike1894 Pullman Strike D. 1893 Pullman slashed wages five times – in D. 1893 Pullman slashed wages five times – in

all wages came down about 30%.Rents, all wages came down about 30%.Rents, however, stayed the same.however, stayed the same.

E. 1894 Pullman workers flocked to E. 1894 Pullman workers flocked to the ranks of the ARU (American the ranks of the ARU (American Railway Union) led by Eugene DebsRailway Union) led by Eugene Debs

F. In May 1894, Pullman workers wentF. In May 1894, Pullman workers wenton strike. By June, 1894 rail workerson strike. By June, 1894 rail workersAll over the USA went on strikeAll over the USA went on strike

1894 Pullman Strike1894 Pullman Strike G. Up until that point the strike had been G. Up until that point the strike had been

peaceful, but …Newspapers ran stories of a peaceful, but …Newspapers ran stories of a “mob” in Chicago“mob” in Chicago

H. A court injunction made it a crime for Debs H. A court injunction made it a crime for Debs to speak and a crime for workers to be on to speak and a crime for workers to be on strikestrike

I. Pullman and the government attached mail I. Pullman and the government attached mail trucks to Pullman cars…now strikers were trucks to Pullman cars…now strikers were interfering with the US mail…By July, 8000 interfering with the US mail…By July, 8000 troops had arrived in Chicagotroops had arrived in Chicago

1894 Pullman Strike1894 Pullman Strike J. Violence erupted when the troops opened fire J. Violence erupted when the troops opened fire

on strikers and 25 workers were shoton strikers and 25 workers were shot

K. Debs was arrested and thrown in jail…The K. Debs was arrested and thrown in jail…The Pullman company reopened and hired about Pullman company reopened and hired about 1600 new workers, firing the workers who had 1600 new workers, firing the workers who had gone on strikegone on strike

L. Eugene Debs became disillusioned with the L. Eugene Debs became disillusioned with the status-quo and became a socialist (someone status-quo and became a socialist (someone who believes that the government should own who believes that the government should own industries) while in jailindustries) while in jail

American Radicalism in the American Radicalism in the MakingMaking

A. Debs emerged from the Pullman Strike a A. Debs emerged from the Pullman Strike a radical, committed to a life-long struggle against radical, committed to a life-long struggle against a system that enabled big business to use the a system that enabled big business to use the government’s power against workersgovernment’s power against workers

B. He took over the Socialist Party’s (Its B. He took over the Socialist Party’s (Its economic ideas came from Karl Marx’s ideas) economic ideas came from Karl Marx’s ideas) leadership in the later 1800s and led its revival in leadership in the later 1800s and led its revival in the early 1900sthe early 1900s

In the early 1800s, Debs’ powerful speeches and In the early 1800s, Debs’ powerful speeches and leadership had expanded the appeal of the leadership had expanded the appeal of the Socialist Party from its base among immigrantsSocialist Party from its base among immigrants

American Radicalism in the American Radicalism in the MakingMaking A. Powerful new mining corporations wanted to A. Powerful new mining corporations wanted to

be free of the Western Federation of Miners be free of the Western Federation of Miners (WFM)(WFM)

B. Silver and copper prices began to drop…B. Silver and copper prices began to drop…miners’ wages were cut…strikes resultedminers’ wages were cut…strikes resulted

C. 1892 Strike in Idaho saw gun battles between C. 1892 Strike in Idaho saw gun battles between strikers and guards. Striking miners also sent a strikers and guards. Striking miners also sent a car of explosive powder down the mine and car of explosive powder down the mine and threatened to blow it up. Martial law was threatened to blow it up. Martial law was declared as it was in several subsequent strikesdeclared as it was in several subsequent strikes

American Radicalism in the American Radicalism in the MakingMaking D. Led by the fiery Boyce and “Big Bill” Haywood, the WFM joined in D. Led by the fiery Boyce and “Big Bill” Haywood, the WFM joined in

1905 with left-wing Socialists to create a new movement, the 1905 with left-wing Socialists to create a new movement, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

E. The Wobblies, as IWW members were called, fervently supported E. The Wobblies, as IWW members were called, fervently supported the Marxist class struggle—but at the workplace rather than in the Marxist class struggle—but at the workplace rather than in politics. By resistance at the point of production and ultimately by politics. By resistance at the point of production and ultimately by means of a general strike, they believed that the workers would bring means of a general strike, they believed that the workers would bring about a revolution. about a revolution.

A new society would emerge, run directly by the workers through their industrial A new society would emerge, run directly by the workers through their industrial unions. The term syndicalism describes this brand of workers' radicalism.unions. The term syndicalism describes this brand of workers' radicalism.

F. In both its major forms—politically-oriented Socialism and the F. In both its major forms—politically-oriented Socialism and the syndicalist IWW—American radicalism flourished after the crisis of the syndicalist IWW—American radicalism flourished after the crisis of the 1890s, but only on a limited basis and never with the possibility of 1890s, but only on a limited basis and never with the possibility of seizing national power. Nevertheless, Socialists and Wobblies served seizing national power. Nevertheless, Socialists and Wobblies served a real purpose. American radicalism, by its sheer vitality, bore witness a real purpose. American radicalism, by its sheer vitality, bore witness to what was exploitative and unjust in the new industrial order.to what was exploitative and unjust in the new industrial order.