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The Pullman Strike. Chicago 1894. Pullman Palace Car Company. Railway car company owned by George Pullman Over 6,000 workers Workers lived in “company town” Rent was 25% higher than other areas. Interior of a Pullman Sleeper Car. Reasons for the Strike.
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The Pullman Strike Chicago 1894
Pullman Palace Car Company • Railway car company owned by George Pullman • Over 6,000 workers • Workers lived in “company town” • Rent was 25% higher than other areas Interior of a Pullman Sleeper Car
Reasons for the Strike • Historical Context: Depression of 1893 • Pullman cut workers’ wages but didn’t cut rent for apartments • On May 10, 1894, workers walked out of their factory
ARU Supports Pullman Workers • American Railway Union was a national union of railway workers • Eugene Debs, ARU leader, decided to support Pullman strikers • Across the nation, railway workers refused to run trains that had Pullman cars attached to them • The country was paralyzed
Eugene Debs Eugene V. Debs, the rail union president at the time of the strike, later campaigned as the American Socialist presidential candidate
Violence Erupts • Presence of federal troops set off riots • Rioters burned buildings • Troops killed 4 people and wounded 20
End of Strike • By August the strike fell apart • 1000 union workers were fired • New workers had to sign contracts promising not to join a union • Debs was arrested and jailed for 6 months