WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LABOR UNION?

Labor Union

an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

How a union works?

Most gain power through collective bargaining Unions negotiating with employers on behalf

of all employees try to gain better pay, conditions, et cetera

for the whole group The unions power lies in its numbers, unity

& ability to take action (strike…?) BUT the employer can always hire scabs or

make employees sign yellow dog contracts

Unions in America

As early as revolutionary period unions existed in America, mostly temporary & based on individual crafts

Became more widespread, more diverse and more permanent during the 19th century

National Labor Union

FIRST national labor federation in the United States founded in 1866 Dissolved in 1874 Led by William H Sylvis

Paved the way for other unions (Knights, AFL)

Wanted to bring together all the other labor organizations

Favored arbitration over strikes Called for the creation of a National Labor Party

National Labor Union

NLU drew its support from: Construction Unions Skilled Workers

BUT they encouraged unskilled workers and farmers to join!

Fought Chinese immigration Half-heartedly fought for the

rights of women and blacks

Knights of Labor

One of the very first unions to form after the Civil War (1869)

Founder: Uriah Stephens Anyone is allowed to join!

Regardless of race, gender, skill BUT bankers, doctors, lawyers, gamblers,

stockholders, and liquor manufactures couldn’t join

8 hour day, equal pay for all men and women, ending child labor, bargaining > strikes

Collapsed after unsuccessful strikes

American Federation of Labor (AFL) Founded in 1881 International trade unions joined with other

trade and craft unions to form the AFL Led by Samuel Gompers

Used a lot of strikes Focused on collective bargaining

Groups negotiate to reach written agreements between workers and employers

Skilled workers only

Industrial Workers of the World Socialist union, led by

Bob Haywood Also known as the “Wobblies” International, radical and

wanted to end capitalism Formed in 1905 but faded in the 1920s

because of conflicts with the AFL Wanted all workers to unite Base was unskilled workers BUT anyone

could join!

Organized Labor

NLU, 1866, William Sylus, no women or African Americans, working conditions & politics

Knights of Labor, 1869, Uriah Stephens, everyone, working conditions & politics

AFL, 1886, Samuel Gompers, skilled only, working conditions

IWW, 1905, Bob Haywood, unskilled base, anyone could be part, get rid of capitalism

NOT A UNION – Socialist Party of America, 1895, Eugene Debs, anyone

IWW KNIGHTS NLU AFL-CIO

Socialism

Most Conservative

American Federation of Labor Craftsmen only (skilled) Work conditions and rates of pay ONLY

Middle of the Road

NLU Incorporated more people Political agenda (prison labor, land

reform, currency reform) Knights of Labor

All 8 hour day - Political agenda

(government ownership railroads, telegraphs, telephones)

Most Radical

IWW workers unite to do away with

capitalism SPLIT – stay with Socialists? "Capitalists of America, we will

fight against you, not for you! There is not a power in the world that can make the working class fight if they refuse."

The few own the many because they possess the means of livelihood of all ... The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labor. The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands - the ownership and control of their livelihoods - are set at naught, we can have neither men's rights nor women's rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease."

— Helen Keller, IWW member, 1911

What happened to the unions of the progressive era?

What happens to them?

NLU – divided & dissolved Knights – Haymarket AFL – Survived IWW – Pretty dead after WWI

What determined which were successful?

What happened to the AFL?

In 1955 AFL merges with their biggest rival, the Congress of Industrial Organizations

Becomes the AFL-CIO Still exists!

AFL has created the longest lasting and most influential labor federation in the United States

Major Strikes & Their Impacts on Unions

Haymarket Riot 1886-May 3 - 2 workers killed & others wounded by police - McCormick Reaper Works workers rally for an 8 hour day

-May 4, 1886 rally organized by radicals – bomb thrown & police fire-8 charged & convicted, 7 sentenced to death

Pullman Strike 1894 http://video.ezinemark.com/impact-of-the-pullman-strike-430e4f3d150.html

http://www.democracynow.org/2005/12/21/mayor_bloomberg_condemns_new_york_city\ Transit strike

Unions Victories

½ strikes lead to demands being met Victorious: Anthracite Coal Strike 1902 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxO24cTGCeI

Politically fight for: Child labor legislation Work days/hours

Muller v. Oregon (1908) – women only – 10 hour Bunting v. Oregon (1917) – men too – 10 hour

Workmen’s compensation What is missing?

Weekly Wages and Hours in Manufacturing

Average Work Week in Hours

Hourly Wage Average Annual

Wage

1890 60 20 cents

1900 59 22 cents $400-500

1910 56.6 26 cents

1920 51 66 cents $1,424

1930 42 55 cents $1,368

1940 38 66 cents $1,300

1950 40.5 $1.46 $3,008

What hindered unions the most?

Labor Unions in Action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5arsHVN5CTo&feature=related

Mary Harris Jones

“Mother Jones” Endured death

threats and jail because she was the most prominent organizer in the labor movement

Organized the Child Labor march on Washington DC