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Labor Unions

Labor Unions. Working Conditions. Unsafe conditions 10-15 hours, six days a week Children worked 12 hours, often at night, for pennies. Discrimination: ~white males received best paying jobs ~African/Mexican Americans worked the same amount for less money. ~Women were paid less.

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Labor Unions

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  1. Labor Unions

  2. Working Conditions • Unsafe conditions • 10-15 hours, six days a week • Children worked 12 hours, often at night, for pennies. • Discrimination: ~white males received best paying jobs ~African/Mexican Americans worked the same amount for less money. ~Women were paid less.

  3. The Great Upheaval • A year of intense violent confrontations and strikes. • 1866: 1,500 strikes due to wage cuts • Most violent: Haymarket Riot.

  4. Haymarket Riots • 40,000 Chicago workers against the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. (8 hr. work day) • May 1, 1886: turned violent under leadership of anarchists. • May 4th: Meeting in Haymarket Square 200 police arrived-a bomb exploded and gunfire response • 70 wounded

  5. Eugene V. Debs • Led a labor action against the Pullman Sleeping Car Works. • Fighting for better wages

  6. Pullman Strikes • 1894-120,000 workers - Pullman cut wages but refused to lower the prices of rent in his towns. • Debs encouraged workers to refuse to work or to ride on trains. • Rail road companies soon turned to federal government for help: ordered an end to the strike claiming it interfered with the delivery of mail.

  7. American Federation of Labor (AFL) • Formed after the Great Upheaval when skilled and unskilled workers split apart. • Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1866. • Worked to advance the interest of workers.

  8. Samuel Gompers • Opposed women in the work force (would drive wages down) • Focus on workers’ wages, hours and working conditions. • Used strikes and boycotts

  9. Knights of Labor • Philadelphia in 1869. • Hoped to organize working men and women, into a single union. • Recruited African Americans. • Pushed for equal pay for equal work. • 8hr work day • Ended child labor

  10. Terence Powderly • Knights of Labor • Attracted workers who were excluded from other unions (skilled, unskilled, women)

  11. Mary Harris Jones • Organizer for the Knights of Labor • Organized strikes, marches, and demonstrations. • “The most dangerous woman in America”

  12. Scabs • Workers called in by employers to replace striking laborers • Companies could continue working and not have to bargain with the union

  13. Gap between rich and poor Tensions increase between workers and business owners Workers organize into unions Business leaders oppose unions The era of large violent strikes begins in 1877 with a nationwide railroad strike Major strikes include the Haymarket Riot, Homestead strike and Pullman strike Government sides with business owners often using army troops to put down strikes An Era of Strikes

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