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Labor Response

Labor Response. American Studies. What are Labor Unions?. http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/23283671/vegas-fast-food-workers-set-to-strike-thursday Poverty Level 2013: Family of 4 = $24,000 Family of 3: $19,000 -Individual: $12,000 Minimum Wage: $7.25 x 40 hours/52 weeks = $15,080 a year

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Labor Response

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  1. Labor Response American Studies

  2. What are Labor Unions? • http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/23283671/vegas-fast-food-workers-set-to-strike-thursday • Poverty Level 2013: Family of 4 = $24,000 • Family of 3: $19,000 -Individual: $12,000 • Minimum Wage: $7.25 x 40 hours/52 weeks = $15,080 a year • Need to work 65 hours per week to reach $24,000

  3. Practice Question • Why was the formation of labor unions an effect of U.S Industrialization in the late 1800’s? • A. Unions were needed to guarantee a steady supply of workers. • B. Union membership was required for employment in new industries. • C. Factory owners set up labor unions in order to control their large workforce. • D. Unions organized industrial workers to protest unsafe working conditions and long workdays.

  4. Workers Problems during the Industrial Revolution: • Unregulated, unsafe working conditions with long hours and low wages • Complain: Get pay docked or get fired • Workers are fed up and demand rights • Labor Union: An organization of workers that join together to protect their rights and improve their conditions • Better pay, better hours, safer environment, etc.

  5. Rise of Labor Unions • Collective Bargaining: Union representatives negotiate with business owners for better conditions and treatment • Arbitration: Settle dispute outside court, neutral mediator hears both sides and they agree to comply with third-party decision • http://www.history.com/topics/labor/videos#1930s-gm-sit-down-strike

  6. Knights of Labor • Founded in 1869 by Terence Powderly • Originally a secret society due to fear of retaliation from monopolies • For skilled and unskilled workers, all races and genders • 1877: Railroad workers strike around the country-100 killed by US troops in riot • Poor treatment of workers on strike increases union support and membership

  7. Worker’s Goals • 8-hour day • Regulation of Child Labor • Graduated Income Tax • Restriction of immigrants to protect jobs • Unions support Chinese Exclusion Act and Quota Acts • Worker-owned Factories • Equal pay for women

  8. Problems with the Union Haymarket Riot: Chicago 1886 Workers gather in Haymarket Square to protest police brutality • Someone throws bomb that kills 12 • 8 police officers • Lack of evidence: Anarchist workers accused • 8 riot organizers arrested and put on trial

  9. Haymarket Riot • All found guilty, 7 workers sentenced to death • One commits suicide in jail • 4 are hung in Illinois • 3 are eventually pardoned due to lack of evidence • Conviction causes outrage in unions around the world

  10. Fall of the Knights of Labor Newspapers and politicians depict unions as violent extremists Lack of govt and public support leads to a decline in membership Hold the labor movement back for years

  11. Practice Question The Haymarket Riot broke out in Chicago to protest to unfair shooting of union protestors. After a bomb was thrown into the crowd, seven union members were sentenced to death with little evidence to prove their guilt. Though this caused outrage among laborers around the world, the ultimate outcome was: A. Decline in Knights of Labor membership due to little public or government support. B. Increased public support and union membership. C. Government enacts laws to regulate business and help the workers. D. Protesting and strikes are made illegal.

  12. American Federation of Labor • AFL founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers • In Columbus, Ohio • Becomes one of the most successful, important, lasting unions of all time • Organized trade/craft union that only accepts skilled workers

  13. American Federation of Labor • Similar Goals to other unions, but less extreme: • Focus on peaceful negotiations • Eventually uses strikes/boycotts • Avoids radical politics • Supports candidates that work for labor rights

  14. Problems with the Union • Not accepting of all skills, races, genders • 1930s: Some unite to form committee of unskilled workers as branch of AFL • AFL disagrees and groups split • CIO: Congress of Industrial Organizations (unskilled) • 1955: Finally united skilled and unskilled workers as AFL-CIO • Union is exists and is one of the most successful in history

  15. Picketers http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Government;jsessionid=102B9837BF272E7939F76EF394BB7765

  16. Practice Question The most successful and long-lasting labor union from this period was led by Samuel Gompers and was less radical, with simple, straight forward demands. This union, which still exists today, is called: A. The Knights of Labor B. The Industrial Workers of the World C. The American Federation of Labor D. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union

  17. International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) • Founded in 1900 by 7 NYC textile unions • For skilled and unskilled workers • Many were Jewish immigrants • Goals: • Workman’s Compensation benefits • Improve sweatshop conditions • Better hours and pay • Safety regulations • Successful Marches (1909-1920)

  18. ILGWU • 1911: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire • 146 young women die in fire or fall to their deaths • Doors were locked to prevent stealing and taking breaks • 100,000 attend funeral march • Rallies support for union and safety regulations

  19. Ladies Garment Workers • Problems: Divided leadership • Fights about Communist influence • Can’t agree on negotiations • Later joined CIO then AFL-CIO • 1995: Joined other garment unions to form UNITE • http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2008/04/do-americans-today-still-need-labor-unions

  20. Union Tactics • Strikes: Refuse to work until demands are met • How: Sit down or walk out until union negotiates a new contract • No one makes money until it’s over = pressure to agree • Americans support strikes back then? • Violent and Chaotic • Blacklisted: Union strikers put on a list so other companies won’t hire them • Boycotts: Don’t buy goods/services from companies that don’t allow unions or treat workers fairly

  21. Homestead Strike (1892) • Steel Union vs. Homestead Steel Co. in Pennsylvania owned by Carnegie • http://www.history.com/topics/labor/videos#andrew-carnegie-and-the-homestead-strike • Why: Union refused to except wage reduction • Replacement workers hired • Violent riot • Results: State militia breaks strike • Workers must accept wage reduction • No steel workers union again until 1930s

  22. Practice Question • Strikes were a very important part of life for workers during the Industrial Revolution. Describe what happened in the Homestead Steel Strike? • A. Workers went on strike due to low wages and received high pay peacefully. • B. Workers signed individual contracts and avoided the strike • C. Workers went on strike against low pay, fought with guns resulting in death, and it caused the end of their union and lower wages. • D. Workers went on strike due to high pay, fought with slogans and signs resulting in death and lower wages.

  23. Pullman Strike: Chicago1894 • Why: Pullman Railroad workers get 25% wage cut, some laid off • Rent in the company town stayed the same • American Railway Union led by Eugene V. Debs go on strike • Strikes break out nationwide • Results: Picketers refuse to let trains leave Chicago • Set some on fire and halt mail delivery • Govt breaks up strike: obstruction to interstate commerce

  24. Practice Question • During the Industrial Revolution many people were against creating unions and strikes. Why? • A. They were very successful and people received better benefits. • B. Many were unsuccessful and caused violence and chaos • C. Many were tricked by the rich to believe they were evil. • D. They were frowned upon because of Social Darwinism.

  25. Lawrence Textile Strike • 1912: Lawrence ,Massachusetts • Why: Pay cut after new law shortens the work week • Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organize a diverse group of workers • Mostly immigrants and women • Lasts two months • Results: Starving kids sent to supporting families • Gain public support • Workers all get a 20% raise

  26. Practice Question During the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century, farmers in the United States worked to increase their land holdings and modernize their equipment. A lasting effect of these changes was A. higher prices for crops. B. increased rural population density. C. a shortage of land for farming. D. greater productivity for farmers

  27. Agrarian Response • Agrarian: Agriculture, farming • Positives for Farmers during the Industrial Revolution: Cheap land on the frontier and new technology • Increases productivity with less workers • Problems: Lack of capital (money) • Machines were expensive • Dependent on railroads • In dept to railroads and banks • Bad weather/drought leads to poor crop

  28. Practice Question Though farmers had cheap land and new technology, they did not have enough capital (money) to combat bad weather, poor harvests, and low prices for food. They blamed most of their problems on: A. The government not regulating big business. B. Railroads charging high prices for storage and transport of corn and grain. C. Not being able to pay back bank loans because of gold hoarding or money scarcity. D. All of the above.

  29. The Granger Movement • Railroads charge high prices: Farmers are forced to pay • Charge extra to store grain in elevator before shipping it • They charge higher price for a short haul than a long haul shipment • Grangers form cooperatives: Pool their money together to buy/build and then share equipment

  30. Practice Question The Granger Movement was a social organization where farmers voiced their struggles. One of the solutions they came up with for their problems was: A. Using strikes and boycotts to fight the high railroad prices. B. Creating cooperatives that bought grain elevators and machines in bulk for farmers to share. C. Leaving their farms and moving back to the cities to find factory jobs. D. Nominating their own candidate for president who would work for farmer’s rights.

  31. Farmer’s Alliance More political than Grangers Encourage state legislatures to pass laws regulating railroad freight and storage prices Landmark Case: Munn vs. Illinois: Supreme Courts says state can set maximum rate for grain storage

  32. The Populist Party • Cincinnati (1890): New reform movement uniting farmer’s alliances • Populist Party: Politicians who stand up for farmer’s rights • Want to make govt work for the farmers • Complain about corrupt govt run by big business and the rich • Gain influence/seats in local and state govt, the House and the Senate

  33. National Convention of 1892 • Populist Platform: • Graduated Income Tax • Govt ownership/operation of railroads • 8 hr. workday • Referendum: Voter power to initiate ideas for new laws and to vote for/against new laws • Unlimited coinage of silver: create inflation in order to repay debts quickly

  34. Practice Question In 1890, the Farmer’s Alliances united to form the Populist Party. Their platform of beliefs and solutions for farmers included: A. Flat income tax, 8 hr. workday, and government ownership of the banks B. Graduated income tax, 8 hr. workday, and continuation of the gold standard C. Graduated income tax, 8 hr. workday, and unlimited coinage of silver D. Flat income tax, government ownership of railroads, and direct election of Senators

  35. Election of 1896 • Populists and Democrats nominate William Jennings Bryan • Loses to Republican William McKinley • Supported gold: Eastern workers fear inflation • Other parties adopt reform ideas: • Even when 3rd/independent parties lose they can have major influence

  36. Reforms and Amendments • 16th Amendment (1913): Graduated Income Tax • 17th: Direct election of US Senators by popular vote • Interstate Commerce Act (1887): Fed govt regulates railroads • Enforce reasonable rates • Pooling and rebates are illegal

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