Labor Unions & Major Strikes

1. Labor Unions & Major Strikes

2. Problems for Workers • Poor work conditions • Low Pay • Long Hours • Unsafe work • Children work • No sick or vacation pay • If hurt on job lose your job

3. Tactics Used By Management • Blacklist: your name goes on a list that is given to other companies so they won’t hire you • Yellow Dog Contracts: the company makes you sign a contract that you won’t join a union • Scabs: Immigrants who will take the jobs of striking workers

4. What can the workers do? • Form a union! • Labor Union: a group that helps workers fight for rights

5. Tactics Used by Workers • Work Slowdown: you go to work but make less so it hurts the profit of the business • Picket: hold signs outside so people won’t buy from that business • Boycott: don’t buy the goods/services • Strike: Don’t work

6. How do they work together? • Collective Bargaining: both sides negotiate pay, hours etc • Mediation: a third party helps the two come to an agreement but they don’t have to take the advice • Arbitration: a third party gives advice that the sides have to do

7. First Major Strikes

8. Railroad Strike of 1877 Company was going to cut wages 10% Militia in Philadelphia kills some workers President Hayes sent out troops

9. Who Won? Management

10. Homestead Strike 1892 AFL Iron/Steel Workers against Carnegie His Asst. Frick cuts wages Frick uses Pinkertons to break up strike Deaths and Injuries Both Sides Frick almost gets assassinated Union calls off Strike

11. Who Won? Management

12. Pullman Strike 1894 Railroad Pullman started towns for his workers Cut Wages 25 to 40% Strike Affects Mail Pres. Cleveland stops strike and sends troops

13. Who Won? Management

14. Effect? • Government doesn’t recognize unions • Violence/Unrest

15. Why is it hard for workers to win rights? Because so many new immigrants increase supply of workers! Immigrants will work for less!