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Labor Unions

Labor Unions. PURPOSE OF UNION. Purpose of a Union. Protect Workers 1900 – average worker worded 60 hours/week Earning 22 cents an hour. Why were unions created?. Why were they created?. To protect against: Long Hours Low Pay Unsafe working conditions Child Labor

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Labor Unions

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  1. Labor Unions

  2. PURPOSE OF UNION

  3. Purpose of a Union • Protect Workers • 1900 – average worker worded 60 hours/week • Earning 22 cents an hour

  4. Why were unions created?

  5. Why were they created? • To protect against: • Long Hours • Low Pay • Unsafe working conditions • Child Labor • Unsanitary work conditions

  6. Why were they created? • To gain and advocate for: • Equal pay • Healthcare • Benefits

  7. Types of Workers Common Laborer – few skills thus lower wages Craft worker - Special skills and training Ex: machinists, glass blowers 1st to form unions called trade unions (shared same ‘trade’ or skill

  8. How Industry Can Oppose Union?

  9. Industry Opposition How they opposed • Contracts • Blacklist • Lockout • Scabs

  10. Why were some Americans suspicious of unions?

  11. Many associated unions with radical ideas like communism • Feared Marxist idea of workers revolt to create a socialist society

  12. Knights of Labor Goals: 1st Nationwide industrial union • 8 hour workday • End child labor • Equal pay for women • Gov’t owned railroad • Terminate contract system • Worker owned factories

  13. Knights of Labor contineud Leadership Approach to Labor Issues Arbitration – process in which 3rd party helps workers and employers reach an agreement Boycott Opposed Strikes Who they represent? Unskilled workers Open to African Americans and women • Terrence Powderly

  14. American Federation of Labor Goals • Higher wages • Better working conditions • 8 hour work day • Convince companies to recognize union and allow to collectively bargain • Closed shops – only hire union members

  15. AFL Continued Leadership Approach to Labor Issues Preferred negotiation over strike • Led by Samuel Gompers • Who they represent? • Trade Union • Skilled workers • White males

  16. Industrial Workers of the World • Goals: • Workers organize as a class • Promote worker solidarity • Overthrow employing class

  17. IWW continued • Leadership: • Eugene Debs • Who they represent? • Skilled and unskilled workers • All workers (all races and genders) • Approach to Labor Issues: • Strikes to overthrow wage system

  18. Pros Cons

  19. Pros • Protects workers • Safer working conditions • Fair Pay / Higher wages • Benefits ie: Healthcare, maternity leave • Protects against unjustified firing • Fewer monopolies and trusts ie: DHL • Improves communication b/w workers and owners

  20. Cons • Union demands like higher wages may have a negative effect on the economy • More difficult to fire ill-equipped workers • Strikes could get violent

  21. Great Railroad Strike • Who? Railroad workers from the Baltimore and Ohio Railway • Where? Railways in St. Louis, Pittsburg, New York, Chicago, Baltimore • Why? B & O announced it was cutting wages for the 3rd time

  22. Great Railroad Strike • Railway workers in West Virginia blocked tracks • Smashed tracks, blocked rail service, federal troops sent in to keep order • 12 days of fighting to restore order • $100 dead • 10 million rail damage • Significance: Showed Americans that their needed to be more peaceful ways to settle labor disputes

  23. Haymarket Riot • Who? Knights of Labor • Where? Chicago • Why? • Nationwide strike for 8 hour workday; • Knights of Labor led march through Chicago • Police intervened to stop fight at picket line

  24. Haymarket Riot • Police killed 4 • Anarchists group organized meeting to protest killings • Police moved in to keep order • Bomb thrown killing officer • Workers shot back • 100 killed or injured • 8 people arrested and convicted of bombing • Weak evidence but 4 executed • Significance: one man arrested was a member of Knights of Labor so it hurt their reputation • People associated unions with radicals

  25. Homestead Strike • Who? Amalgamated association of Iron, Steel, and Tin workers union vs. Carnegie Steel works • Where? Homestead, PA • Why? Steel owners wanted to cut wages by 20% and locked employees out

  26. Homestead Strike • Strikers stood guard outside of plant • Frick brought in private army called Pinkertons • Gunfire erupted leaving 3 Pinkertons and 9 workers dead • Governor ordered militia in to protect plant and strikebreakers • Significance? Strike leaders charged with murder – not convicted • All strike leaders blacklisted • Unions swept out of most steel mills in Pittsburg

  27. Pullman Strike • Who? American Railway Union • Leader – Eugene Debs • Where? Pullman, IL • Near Chicago • Why started? Owner George Pullman required workers to live in his town and buy goods from company store. • He laid off workers and slashed wages

  28. Pullman Strike continued • Workers could not afford high prices at company stores • Workers went on strike • American Railway Union members nationwide refused to handle Pullman cars • Railway managers arranged to have mail cars attached to Pullman cars • President Cleveland sent in troops to keep mail running

  29. Pullman continued • Injunction (court order) ordered to keep mail going and required workers to handle cars • Supreme Court upheld injunction • Significance: Gave business owners powerful tool to deal with labor unrest • Injunction used to stop boycott or strike

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