Labor Unions Part Two

1. __________ : American Federation of Labor - organization of trade unions that represented ______________________________________. • _____________________________ : the right of the unions to negotiate with management for workers as a group • _________________________: • Form the majority of workers in factories by 1890 • Tobacco, garment, textile mills • Women begin to form their own unions Labor Unions Part Two • Irish-born Mary Harris Jones (__________________) • Speaks out about children working in textile mills • “barefoot- reaching thin little hands into the machinery” • 1911: fire breaks out in Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (sweatshop in NY city) • _________________________ (lockouts for union employees) • No doors push out (body blocks) • Fire truck ladders can’t reach windows • _____________________ not long enough • Elevators didn’t work (no one knew) • Poor/ overwhelmed communications don’t transfer • Windows on lower floors have bars on them • Only option….jump! 150 people die • - In a booming economy, many rush too fast to gain higher profits • Goods flood the market and ____________________ • To cover losses, owners _______________________ • Ends in vicious cycle…holds for a while, until progress rebuilds • Result: a wild yo-yoing between very ________& very _______times • 1870-1900: 2 major depressions & 3 smaller recessions rock country • To cover losses, owners fired workers • Ends in vicious cycle…holds for a while, until progress rebuilds, more are hired, same cycle repeats • Result: a wild yo-yoing between very good & very bad times • 1870-1900: 2 major depressions & 3 smaller recessions rock country

2. After Economy Has a Short Time to Re-boost… ____________________ __________ Factories & Faster Work Price Drops How difficult would it have been to support a family in such conditions? - ______________________ - Low $$ - Safety or harassment - Injuries, health and sanitation? When Workers Go On Strike… • Gov’t usually sided with owners • Political reasons • _______________ • They are the people who are “responsible” for creating economic booms which the country needs • Who is actually responsible for turning out production??? • Presidents send in troops/ military/ police to intimidate strikers • _______________________________________________ Strikes get a bad reputation… but why? • They result in progress- but ________________________ • Because of instances like _____________________, many strikes are associated with riots & anarchists or “extremists” • Intimidation by the _____________________ makes people want to support strikes less and less