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Labor and the Birth of Unions

Labor and the Birth of Unions. Definitions. Labor- workers/employees Priority- lowest amount of work, most amount of pay Business- owners Priorities- lowest amount of pay, most amount of work Interests are opposed to each other, but they are dependent on each other as well.

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Labor and the Birth of Unions

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  1. Labor and the Birth of Unions

  2. Definitions • Labor- workers/employees • Priority- lowest amount of work, most amount of pay • Business- owners • Priorities- lowest amount of pay, most amount of work • Interests are opposed to each other, but they are dependent on each other as well

  3. Status of the Average Worker • Wages in America did not rise as quickly, relative to inflation, as they did in Europe • US economy more volatile- more boom and bust • Average worker was unemployed 3-4 months a years • Illness, bad weather, seasonal employment • $400-500 a year- absolutely insufficient to raise family on • Children under 16 accounted for 20% of family income

  4. Some boys and girls were so young they had to climb up onto the looms to mend broken threads

  5. Group photo of some children working at Farrand Packing Co. in Baltimore, Maryland

  6. Sources of unrest • Before the civil war, most business were privately owned and operated. • With the advent of big business, skilled crafts men were made unnecessary by mechanization • Influx of immigrant workers made jobs scarce • New form of feudalism • Causing tension between the classes

  7. Sources of Unrest cont. • Unions- group of workers organizing to defend their interests • Questions- should unions organize by industry or by level of skill • Skilled laborers/craftsmen were much harder to replace- aristocracy of labor • Governmental role • Who’s side will they take

  8. The Great Railroad Strike • 1877- first major railroad strike and first general strike in the nation’s history • Financial insecurity caused railroad companies across the country to significantly lower wages • Some cut the work week, others demanded more work from fewer employees • Employees protested violently, seizing control of railroad infrastructure and striking • Violence erupted as the companies resisted the strikers • Over a hundred killed across the country- violence centered in Maryland and Pennsylvania

  9. Examples of the Conflict • Homestead Steel Strike • Andrew Carnegie’s steel mill in Pennsylvania • Attempt to cut wages led to protest • Closed the mill and hired guards to keep workers away • Violence ensued, union lost and alienated the public • Another 44 years before the steel industry had another successful union • Pullman Strike • Pullman luxury railcars- outside Chicago • Workers went on strike after attempt to cut wages • Strike spread to a national level- President Cleveland filed an injunction to force workers back • Violence followed- 25 dead 60 injured many arrested

  10. Early Unions • Knights of Labor- 1869 • Thought that all workers should join together to negotiate with big business, regardless of skill level or industry • Refused to strike but gained some significant ground • Wanted 8 hour work day, abolition of child labor, equal pay for men and women, etc. • Haymarket Square Incident • May 4 1886 a bomb exploded during a worker rally in downtown Chicago • 8 immigrants charged with the crime, although there was little evidence

  11. American Federation of Labor • Samuel Gompers- first president of the AFL helped transform it into the first successful national labor union. • Believed in organizing labor by craft, not all laborers in an industry • Open and Closed Shops • Open Shop- employers could hire anyone- favored by employers • Closed Shop- employers hire only union members- favored by Gompers and the AFL • Initial success but began to disintegrate in the late 1890’s

  12. Radicalism in the Labor Movement • International Workers of the World- “The Wobblies” • Founded by Eugene V. Debs- instigator in the Pullman strike • Socialist ideas- • Destroy the ruling class • Economy ruled by the workers • Heralded by many as against capitalism, and therefore anti American • Capitalism- system where trade and industry are owned by private individuals for profit • Socialism- trade and industry are owned by a collective group for the benefit of all

  13. So who do you agree with? • Which side would you take, labor or business? Why? • Can you think of a solution to the conflict between these 2 groups? • Write your thoughts on your exit ticket slip

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