Unions & Working Conditions

Opposition to Unions

There were no laws giving workers the right to organize or requiring owners to negotiate with them, leaving workers who wanted to organize a union with major problems.

Courts often ruled strikes as a conspiracy and labor leaders might be fined or jailed.

Opposition to Unions

Unions were also seen as a threat to American institutions.

Ideas from Karl Marx, called Marxism, became very influential in Europe. Marx believed that the basic force shaping

capitalist society was the class struggle between workers and owners.

Workers would eventually revolt, seize control of the factories, and overthrow the government.

Opposition to Unions

Marxist ideas came to America when thousands of European immigrants came to the U.S. Since many Americans were already anti-

immigrant, they became very suspicious of unions

This often led officials to us the courts, police, and army to crush strikes and break up unions.

The Struggle to Organize

In the 1830s, trade unions were formed to people with specific skills. Employers were forced to negotiate with trade

unions because they needed those people’s skills.

Industrial unions: united all craft workers and common laborers in a particular industry Opposed by owners of large companies Industrial unions rarely succeeded

The Struggle to Organize

Techniques used by companies to prevent unions forming: Required workers to take oaths or sign

contracts promising not to join a union Hired detectives to identify union organizations

Workers who tried to organize a union were fired and placed on a blacklist If blacklisted, laborers could only get a job by

changing residence, trade, or his/her name

The Struggle to Organize

Union workers were also placed on a lockout

Locked out of the property and refused their pay

If a strike was called, employees would be replaced by strikebreakers (or scabs)

Confrontation with owners and the government often led to violence and bloodshed

The riot at Haymarket Square in Chicago led to the discrediting of the Knights of Labor (1st nationwide industrial union)

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Pullman Strike of 1894 both involved rail workers responding to wage cuts

The army was sent to restore order

The American Federation of Labor

Trade unions flourished in the late 1800s.

In 1886 the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed by delegates form over 20 of the nation’s trade unions.

Samuel Gompers was the first leader of the AFL. His simple approach

helped unions become accepted in American society.

American Federation of Labor

Gompers preferred to negotiate before starting a strike. His three main goals for the AFL were: Convince companies to recognize unions and

to agree to collective bargaining Push for closed shops, or companies that only

hired union members Promote the 8-hour workday.

American Federation of Labor

The AFL had 500,000 members by 1900 and was the biggest union in the country. AFL represented less than 15% of all non-farm

workers A vast majority of workers remained

unorganized and unions were still weak

Working Women

Women made up more than 18% of the labor force by 1900. 1/3rd worked as domestic

servants 1/3rd worked as teachers,

nurses, sales clerks, and secretaries

1/3rd employed in light industrial work

Many more worked in the garment industry and food processing plants

Working Women

Women were paid less than men, even if their performance was equal

Many unions (including AFL) excluded women because it was believed that all women had a man supporting her and that the men needed the higher wages

In 1903, Mary Kenney O’Sullivan and Leonora O’Reilly established the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL) This became the first national trade association to promote

women’s labor issues WTUL pushed for the 8-hour workday, the creation of a

minimum wage, an end to evening work, and the abolition of child labor

Working in the U.S.

Industrialization brought about a dramatic rise in the standard of living for Americans.

Real wages by the average worker rose about 50% between 1860-1890. However, the division of workers between wealthy and working class caused resentment.

Working in the U.S.

Life for workers in industrial America was difficult. Work was monotonous

and repetitive Working conditions

were unhealthy and dangerous

Workers breathed in toxic fumes and heavy machines without safety devices caused many injuries.

References

Appleby, J., Brinkley, A., Broussard, A.S., McPherson, J.M., Ritchie, P.A. (2006) The American vision (pp.243-251). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Haymarket Flier retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Haymarket_Flier.jpg

AFL logo retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AFL-label.jpg

Girl worker at the Denomah Mills retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8c03999/

Assembly line photo retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a27966/