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Labor Struggles and Oppression in Pullman: The 1894 Pullman Strike

In 1879, George Pullman envisioned a workers' utopia by creating an entire town around his train car factory near Chicago. Pullman's town provided all amenities and services to its 6,000 inhabitants, all under his control. However, the 1893 economic depression led to wage cuts without a decrease in rent, igniting the Pullman Strike on May 10, 1894. Supported by the American Railway Union, the strike disrupted national rail services but was met with federal troops, resulting in violence and the eventual arrest and conviction of union leader Eugene Debs.

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Labor Struggles and Oppression in Pullman: The 1894 Pullman Strike

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  1. Labor & Oppression in the Pullman Community

  2. George Pullman & The Town of Pullman In 1879, Pullman planned to build an entire town centered around his massive train car factory. Pullman purchased 4,000 acres of land in an area that was at the time 14 miles south of the city of Chicago After five years, the town consisted of 6,000 people, all of whom worked for Pullman. Besides employing thousands through his massive train car factory, Pullman's town also had a library, church, hospital, barbers, grocers, and everything else necessary to a community Each and everyone of these people were on George Pullman's payroll.

  3. The Town of Pullman -The Town of Pullman was meant to be a worker's utopia, free from all of the vice (alcohol, gambling) and problems (labor unrest, lack of education) that workers experienced in a big city - George Pullman set the prices and collected rent. (Employees paid by him, Money goes right back to him in rent) "We are born in a Pullman house, fed from the Pullman shops, taught in the Pullman school, catechized in the Pullman Church, and when we die we shall go to the Pullman Hell"

  4. The Pullman Strike Chicago, 1894 Interior of a Pullman Sleeper Car

  5. Origins of the Strike • Historical Context: Depression of 1893 • Pullman cuts workers’ wages • But doesn’t cut rent for apartments

  6. Strike Begins • May 10, 1894- Workers walk out

  7. ARU Supports Pullman Workers • American Railway Union is a NATIONAL union of railway workers • Eugene Debs, ARU leader, decides to support Pullman strikers • Across the nation, railway workers refused to run trains that had Pullman cars attached to them • The country is paralyzed

  8. Eugene Debs

  9. President Grover Cleveland sends in troops

  10. Violence Erupts • Presence of Federal troops sets off riots • Rioters burn buildings, troops kill 4 and wound 20

  11. End of Strike • By August, strike fall apart • 1000 union workers fired • New workers have to sign contracts promising not to join a union • Debs arrested and jailed for 6 months

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