The Union Movement: Labor Unions & Strikes US History:
Spiconardi
Slide 3
The Growth of Unions Purpose of Unions To protect workers
Improve working conditions Collective Bargaining Courts denied this
right at first Believed a worker could find another job if they
were unhappy with wages union members representing workers
negotiate labor issues with management
Slide 4
The Knights of Labor Founded by Terrence Powderly in 1869
Membership Skilled & Unskilled Workers Women Blacks Philosophy
& Practices Generally anti-strike Wanted to form cooperative
relationship with management Believed workers lost more strikes
than they won Causes Eight-hour workday End to child labor Equal
opportunity and wages for women
Slide 5
American Federation of Labor Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886
Membership Skilled workers predominately Women and blacks not
welcomed Most powerful union by 1900 500,000 members Causes Worked
for immediate goals in better wages and hours Philosophy &
Practices Supported strikes Anti-immigration Believed immigrants
took jobs away from American workers
Slide 6
Slide 7
Strikes Strikes end up being a major setback for unions
Violence causes public fear Government sides with business and
sometimes sends troops in to put down strikes
Slide 8
Haymarket Riot May 1, 1886: A spontaneous labor demonstration
breaks out Includes anarchist & craft unions Anarchist Over
100,000 demonstrators turn out in Chicago Started peacefully and
calmly Two days later violence breaks out! Union members attack
non-union strikebreakers Police storm area and shoot and kill two
unionists a person who believes government is unnecessary and often
harmful
Slide 9
Haymarket Riot Labor groups protest police brutality the
following evening in downtown Chicago As police approach.BAM! A
bomb explodes killing 7 and injuring 67 Outcome Knights of Labor
blamed and lose any support Increases distrust of unions Unions
seen as radical groups comprised of socialists and foreigners
Slide 10
Homestead Strike In 1892, the AFL affiliated steel workers
union strike at the Carnegie Steel plant Company president Henry
Frick closes the plant and brings in Pinkerton troops to protect
the plant from potential union violence
Slide 11
Homestead Strike Workers attack the Pinkerton troops and
violence breaks out 16 people killed National guard called in to
break up the fighting After 5 months, strike ends Only 25% of
striking workers get their jobs back For next 20 years, union
movement halted in steel industry
Slide 12
Pullman Strike We are born in a Pullman house, fed from a
Pullman shop, taught in the Pullman school, catechized in the
Pullman Church, and when we die we shall be buried in the Pullman
cemetery and go to the Pullman hell.
Slide 13
Pullman Strike George Pullman refused to negotiate with his
workers Had to cut wages 25-40% Kept rents and prices the same
Workers Strike Pullman closes plant American Railway Union refused
to handle Pullman cars
Slide 14
Pullman Strike Railroad owners enlist help of government Claim
action was obstructing the railways and holding up the mails.
President Grover Cleveland sends troops into to stop the strike
Federal Government has right to regulate interstate commerce
President Grover Cleveland
Slide 15
Question: What impact did strikes have on workers and the
United States? ____________________________________