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The American Worker Strikes Back

Chapter 13 Sec 3 &4. The American Worker Strikes Back. A Shifting Population. The United States saw a large number of immigrants move into the county Millions of people flocked to the cities in hopes of finding factory jobs. Working in America.

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The American Worker Strikes Back

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  1. Chapter 13 Sec 3 &4 The American Worker Strikes Back

  2. A Shifting Population • The United States saw a large number of immigrants move into the county • Millions of people flocked to the cities in hopes of finding factory jobs

  3. Working in America • Government employees worked 8 hour work days those that worked in private factories usually worked 12 hour days/6 days a week • Many workers were paid depending on how much they produced rather than their time. This system is called piecework • Many worked in sweatshops

  4. Effective Companies • Factories wanted to make as much money as possible and used the following techniques to do so: • Division of Labor: Workers make one specific part of a product instead of the entire product • Assembly Lines: System where product is made one part at a time repetitively • Layoffs: Workers that were not essential were let go

  5. Assembly Line Video Clip • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rG1JZZ4UkQ

  6. Changing Relationship between Boss and Worker • With small companies workers and management met face to face every day but with large factories management rarely saw the workers and viewed them as interchangeable.

  7. Working Enviorment • Strict rules with no flexibility. Workers could be fined or fired for: being late, talking or failing to complete a task. • Workers had no say over breaks, hours, pay, assignment • Work environments were often not safe, well lit or clean. • Children made up 5% of the work environment

  8. Socialism • Workers and poor tired of watching the rich get richer began to support the idea of Socialism. • Socialism is a political system where the public owns everything rather than private companies. • Karl Marx is credited with coming up with the idea of Socialism in his book Communist Manifesto.

  9. The Creation of Labor Unions • One worker held virtually no influence but together there voice had to be heard. When workers united together to form share in one goal it created a Union.

  10. Power of the Union • With large number workers could call a strike, where workers stop working and protest to prevent scabs from coming in. • Scab- Worker that comes in to replace a striking worker. • Collective Bargaining- Unions make a deal with companies for everyone as a whole rather than just one individual. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hqP0c0_gw

  11. Union Demands • Unions fought for: Higher Wages Shorter Work Days Weekends off Safer work conditions Breaks in the workday End of Child Labor & More

  12. NFL Players Union • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmFU9iLAaLU

  13. The Knights Of Labor • A National Union that looked to bring together all workers regardless of their skill set. • They recruited women and African Americans that other unions would refuse • Successfully held a strike against the railroads. • Lost popularity when some of their failed strikes turned violent

  14. The American Federation of Labor • The AFL was a craft union where only workers in a specific area could join a union. • Did not let women in because they felt they would drive the prices for their workers down. • Supported boycotts where people would not give money to certain companies.

  15. The Wobblies • Counter union to the AFL • Allowed everyone that would join in • Was radical with many socialist leaders had many violent strikes

  16. Business Reacts • Many companies did not like unions so they.. • 1. Forbid Union Meetings • 2. Fired Union Organizers • 3. Forced new employees to sign “yellow dog” contracts that said they would not join a union • 4. Refused to bargain collectively • 5. Refused to recognize unions

  17. Unions Strike Part 1 • Haymarket Strike of 1886- Over an 8 hour workday turned violent when anarchists who opposed all government joined. • The Police came when scabs tried to get in and caused a commotion. One anarchist threw a bomb into a police formation which lead to the Haymarket Riot.

  18. Union Strikes Part 2 • Homestead Strike- Carnegie was away and Henry Frick tried to lower wages leading to a strike. Frick hired men to break up the union which lead to a shootout. • People sympathized with the union until an anarchist tried to kill Frick.

  19. Union Strikes Part 3 • Pullman Strikes- George Pullman invented the sleeping railroad car. In order to attract labor he created a town just for his workers. • When times got tough he had to layoff workers and cut wages 25%. When workers complained he fired them causing the union to strike. • They turned to union leader Eugene V. Debs and were winning until the government made them stop claiming they were interfering with the mail.

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