The Progressive Era Pullman, Homestead

American Federation of Labor

Formed in 1886

National trade unions merged into a confederation

Avoided social projects and revolutionary challenges to capitalism.

Recognize that private ownership of the means of production was inevitable.

Workers should parlay their control of the labor supply in narrowly defined crafts to achieve prudent increases in wages and benefits.

Workers through collective action can control the labor process and establish some form of self-rule. (Only organized skilled labor)

Advocated new unionism often called business unionism defined by hierarchy, high dues, protection of skilled trades.

Lasting significance of the 1890s is the triumph of the AFL over the KOL and the dominance of the new unionism

Beginning of the progressive era Period of Uncertainty, social activism and political and social reform

Main objective was eliminate corruption in government taking down political machines and their bosses

Regulation of monopolies (Trust busting) via anti-trust laws Sherman Anti- trust Act

Other issues related to progressive era Prohibition

Womens suffrage

Efficiency Movement - modernization, scientific, medical end engineering solutions Eugenics

Scientific Management Taylorism and Fordism

Philanthropy

Food and Safety The Jungle by Upton Sinclair 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act

It was also however significant in its great strikes never before had labor and capital engage in such a private warfare than during this decade.

Two notable strikes

Homestead, PA Carnegie Steel (1892) Berkman -> Frick (Propaganda of Deed)

Pullman Strike Debs Rebellion (1894)

Andrew Carnegie Richest man in the U.S. Steel Industry

Price of Steel was dropping from $35 to $22 a ton

Wages needed to be cut -> Smash the Union

Used Henry Clay Frick ->Locked out 1,100 workers, who burned Frick in effigy

Workers wanted to ensure that scabs did not come into the plant so they began guarding the plant.

Frick ordered Pinkertons to disband the workers. Shoot out for 13 hours. Three detectives and 9 workers dead.

PA militia called. Strike disbanded. Strikers charged.

Union busted:

1891 24,000 members

1894 10,000 members

Propaganda by Deed:

Alexander Berkman

The Pullman Car

George Pullman developed the first Pullman car after spending a very uncomfortable

night in a sleeping car on a trip from New York to Chicago.

The first Pullman Car was designed to be a luxury railroad car that

was a day-coach that turned into a sleeper car at night.

The town of Pullman George Pullmans ambitions spread also to developing a safe and clean

place for his workers to live.

The problem was that Pullman controlled everything in the town/ Pullman did not allow the residents to own their homes and hired people to watch the residents for any inappropriate behavior. He controlled which stores would be established, what religion would be practiced in the one church and did not allow alcohol to be served to the residents.

To make matters worse, a depression occurred in the country in 1893-94.

The Pullman workers strike

The Pullman workers joined this union in the spring of 1894, after George Pullman ignored their pleas

The three representatives of the committee who met

with George Pullman were laid off. 90% of the remaining workers voted to strike on May

11

ARU refuses to handle Pullman cars The strike extended to encompass all of the 24 rail lines out of Chicago

Strike continues As a result of the boycotts and accompanying strikes, the

U.S. mail delivery by the railroad and interstate commerce is affected.

Federal troops are called in to help because of the mail stoppage.

July 1st, injunction against Eugene Debs and American Railway Union

July 4th, President Cleveland sent federal troops to protect the Pullman factory

Federal troops ended the blockade and trains began moving again

Debs is arrested

Strike officially ends as of July 12, 1894

Trade Unionism vs. Industrial Unionism Growing number within the labor movement began to urge the

reexamination of craft union ideology and practice.

Some suspected that government was likely going to remain as a tool of the owning class.

Others argued that Labor Like Capital should try and influence state policy in its favor.

Radicals, Industrial Unionist, radical trade unionists and all around hell-raisers came together in June 24, 1905 to form the Industrial Workers of the World.

Motto: An Injury to One is an Injury to All

Trade Unionism vs. Industrial Unionism Advocated:

Industrial Syndicalism/Industrial Unionism

Organizing of All workers under One Big Union.

Abolition of the Wage System

Was critical of the AFL, which it called a Business Union. Argued instead for Solidarity Unionism.

Instead of arguing the work ethic, they argued the shirk ethic

Political Action v Direct Action

The IWWs emergence onto the stage developed a debate between responsible unionism (AFL), radical unionism (IWW) and anti-unionism (companies)