Labor UnionsLabor Unions

Workers had to Workers had to fight to end fight to end exploitation.exploitation.

Labor Unions . . . .Labor Unions . . . .

Key Organizations:

Knights of Knights of Labor:Labor: Opened membership to Opened membership to all workersall workers

Advocated 8 hr. day/ Advocated 8 hr. day/ equal pay for equal equal pay for equal workwork

Preferred Preferred arbitration to arbitration to strikesstrikes

Under Terence Under Terence Powderly, expanded Powderly, expanded membership in 1880’smembership in 1880’s

Terence Powderly

American Federation American Federation of Labor:of Labor:

A craft union led A craft union led by Samuel Gompersby Samuel Gompers

Advocated Advocated collective collective bargaining with bargaining with threat of strikesthreat of strikes

Focused on better Focused on better pay and benefitspay and benefits

More associated More associated with violencewith violence

Samuel Gompers

American Railway American Railway Union:Union:

Founded by Eugene V. Founded by Eugene V. DebsDebs

Included skilled and Included skilled and unskilled workersunskilled workers

Led way to the Led way to the foundation of the foundation of the American Socialist American Socialist PartyParty

Won successful Won successful strike in 1894/ then strike in 1894/ then fadedfadedEugene V. Debs

International Ladies’ International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union:Garment Workers Union:

Organized in 1909 Organized in 1909 by Pauline Newmanby Pauline Newman

Worked to assist Worked to assist women in the women in the garment workforcegarment workforce

Mostly advocated Mostly advocated better conditions better conditions in the industryin the industry

Tragedy of the Tragedy of the “Triangle Fire” of “Triangle Fire” of 19111911

146 workers died during this fire as the doors were locked to keep workers inside during the day, and the fire escape collapsed.

Tools of the Tools of the Union:Union: Collective Bargaining:Collective Bargaining: negotiations negotiations between representatives of labor between representatives of labor and management to reach agreement and management to reach agreement on wages, benefits and conditionson wages, benefits and conditions

ArbitrationArbitration: allowing outside : allowing outside “referee” to decide issues between “referee” to decide issues between sidessides

StrikeStrike: refusal to work until : refusal to work until demands are metdemands are met

Some Strikes Turned Some Strikes Turned Violent:Violent:

Haymarket Square: Haymarket Square: 1886- confrontation between 1886- confrontation between striking workers and police striking workers and police resulted in several deathsresulted in several deaths

Homestead Strike: Homestead Strike: 1892- steel workers against Carnegie 1892- steel workers against Carnegie

fought hired “thugs”fought hired “thugs” Pullman Strike: Pullman Strike:

1894- Debs’ workers were 1894- Debs’ workers were attacked by “strike breakers” attacked by “strike breakers” resulting in President resulting in President Cleveland sending out troopsCleveland sending out troops

Sketch of tension leading to violence during the Pullman Strike

GAINS:GAINS: Limited work hoursLimited work hours Regulated work Regulated work conditionsconditions

Preserved rights to Preserved rights to collective bargaincollective bargain

Rise of violence Rise of violence led public to led public to distrust unions and distrust unions and fear threat of fear threat of communism (Red communism (Red Scare)Scare)