Labor in the 1890sLabor in the 1890s

Widening gulf between rich and Widening gulf between rich and poorpoor

1890 – richest 9% held 75% of the nation’s 1890 – richest 9% held 75% of the nation’s wealthwealth

Average working family made only a few Average working family made only a few hundred dollars/yearhundred dollars/year

Necessary for most members of working Necessary for most members of working class families to work in order to surviveclass families to work in order to survive

Wealthy lived very well and ostentatiouslyWealthy lived very well and ostentatiously

SocialismSocialism

A political and economic theory of A political and economic theory of collective government ownership of collective government ownership of factories and propertyfactories and propertyGoal – a fair distribution of wealth and Goal – a fair distribution of wealth and equalityequalityNever a strong movement in U.S. Never a strong movement in U.S.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Criticized the capitalist economic system Criticized the capitalist economic system and predicted its eventual overthrow by and predicted its eventual overthrow by the workersthe workers

American Reaction to SocialismAmerican Reaction to Socialism

Contrary to American ideals of free Contrary to American ideals of free enterprise and private propertyenterprise and private propertyMost Americans did not supportMost Americans did not supportHowever – growing discontent existed However – growing discontent existed among the working classamong the working classUnion movement was an alternativeUnion movement was an alternative

Early UnionsEarly Unions

Organized by tradeOrganized by tradeHelped members in hard timesHelped members in hard timesBecame a voice for demands for shorter Became a voice for demands for shorter workdays, higher wages, and better workdays, higher wages, and better conditionsconditions

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor

Early – national unionEarly – national unionWilling to organize virtually all working Willing to organize virtually all working men and women – farmers, factory men and women – farmers, factory workers, white collar workers – included workers, white collar workers – included African AmericansAfrican AmericansPresident – Terence PowderlyPresident – Terence PowderlyGoals: Equal pay for equal work – 8 hour Goals: Equal pay for equal work – 8 hour day – an end to child laborday – an end to child labor

American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor

Samuel Gompers – PresidentSamuel Gompers – PresidentIgnored politics – concentrated on strong Ignored politics – concentrated on strong organizations of each skillorganizations of each skillOrganization – Loose confederation of Organization – Loose confederation of craft unions – organization of each skillcraft unions – organization of each skillPhilosophy – workers as a group had Philosophy – workers as a group had more power than working individuallymore power than working individually

Goals of AFLGoals of AFL

Bread and Butter Issues – wages, hours, Bread and Butter Issues – wages, hours, and working conditionsand working conditionsCollective bargaining – workers negotiate Collective bargaining – workers negotiate as a group with the employeras a group with the employerClosed shop – Wanted a shop that Closed shop – Wanted a shop that employed only Federation membersemployed only Federation members

Friction between Labor and Friction between Labor and ManagementManagement

Measures taken to stop unions – forbid Measures taken to stop unions – forbid union meetings and fire union organizersunion meetings and fire union organizers““Yellow Dog” Contracts – promise not to Yellow Dog” Contracts – promise not to join the union or to participate in a strike – join the union or to participate in a strike – new workers were forced to sign thesenew workers were forced to sign these

Great Railroad Strike of 1877Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Baltimore and Ohio RRBaltimore and Ohio RRCause: RR cut wages 10% and ran Cause: RR cut wages 10% and ran “double headers” (long trains with 2 “double headers” (long trains with 2 engines) as a means to cut workersengines) as a means to cut workersReaction to wage cuts spread through Reaction to wage cuts spread through Pennsylvania to Ohio and the MidwestPennsylvania to Ohio and the MidwestRiot in Pittsburgh – state militia called in – Riot in Pittsburgh – state militia called in – 10 people killed – strikers fought back and 10 people killed – strikers fought back and set fire to railroad cars and buildingsset fire to railroad cars and buildings

Results of the RR StrikeResults of the RR Strike

President Hayes sent federal troops to put President Hayes sent federal troops to put down the strikedown the strikePrecedent set: From 1877 on - Precedent set: From 1877 on - employers relied on state and federal employers relied on state and federal troops to repress labor unresttroops to repress labor unrest

Haymarket 1886Haymarket 1886

Company: McCormick Reaper in ChicagoCompany: McCormick Reaper in ChicagoCause: Workers wanted an 8 hour day – Cause: Workers wanted an 8 hour day – called for a strike. Strikebreakers (scabs) called for a strike. Strikebreakers (scabs) were brought in and there was a fight. were brought in and there was a fight. The police broke up the fight and several The police broke up the fight and several people were injured. A protest rally was people were injured. A protest rally was called by anarchists.called by anarchists.

Rally at HaymarketRally at Haymarket

Rally at HaymarketRally at Haymarket

A bomb was thrownA bomb was thrown7 policemen were killed and many 7 policemen were killed and many woundedwoundedPolice opened fire on the crowdPolice opened fire on the crowdThere were dozens of deathsThere were dozens of deaths

Results of HaymarketResults of Haymarket

8 anarchists 8 anarchists convicted of convicted of conspiracyconspiracyBomb thrower never Bomb thrower never foundfound4 anarchists hung4 anarchists hung1 committed suicide1 committed suicide3 pardoned by 3 pardoned by Governor AltgeldGovernor Altgeld

Homestead Strike - 1892Homestead Strike - 1892

Company: Carnegie Steel – Homestead, Company: Carnegie Steel – Homestead, PAPACause: The Union of Steel and Iron Cause: The Union of Steel and Iron Workers had negotiated a labor contract Workers had negotiated a labor contract with Carnegie Steelwith Carnegie SteelCarnegie went to EuropeCarnegie went to EuropeCarnegie’s partner – Frick – cut wagesCarnegie’s partner – Frick – cut wagesThe union went on strikeThe union went on strike

What Happened?What Happened?

Frick called in the Pinkertons (police force Frick called in the Pinkertons (police force to break strikes)to break strikes)The strikers fired on the PinkertonsThe strikers fired on the PinkertonsAn anarchist – Alexander Berkman – tried An anarchist – Alexander Berkman – tried to assassinate Frickto assassinate FrickThe governor called in state troops to end The governor called in state troops to end the violencethe violenceThe union acknowledged defeatThe union acknowledged defeat

The Battle at HomesteadThe Battle at Homestead

Pullman Strike - 1894Pullman Strike - 1894

Company – Pullman Sleeping Cars of Company – Pullman Sleeping Cars of ChicagoChicagoPullman built a company town – owned all Pullman built a company town – owned all of the houses and shopsof the houses and shopsDepression – Pullman cut wages and did Depression – Pullman cut wages and did not reduce rentsnot reduce rentsA team of workers went to Pullman to A team of workers went to Pullman to protest and he fired themprotest and he fired themThe workers went out on strikeThe workers went out on strike

Pullman StrikePullman Strike

Pullman refused to negotiate and shut Pullman refused to negotiate and shut down the plantdown the plantThe American Railway Union refused to The American Railway Union refused to handle any trains that hauled the Pullman handle any trains that hauled the Pullman CarCarThis became a national rail strike which This became a national rail strike which disrupted the western rail traffic including disrupted the western rail traffic including the mailthe mail

More PullmanMore Pullman

Attorney General Richard Olney argued Attorney General Richard Olney argued that the mail had to go through and the that the mail had to go through and the union was in violation of the Sherman union was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust ActAntitrust ActOlney got a court order to end the strikeOlney got a court order to end the strikeUnion president – Eugene Debs refused Union president – Eugene Debs refused the order and went to jailthe order and went to jailPresident sent in U.S. troops and 12 President sent in U.S. troops and 12 strikers were killedstrikers were killed

PrecedentsPrecedents

From 1877 on – employers relied on state From 1877 on – employers relied on state and federal troops to repress labor unrestand federal troops to repress labor unrestPeople associated unions with the rising People associated unions with the rising tide of labor violencetide of labor violenceFactory owners could get court orders Factory owners could get court orders against unions as combinations in restraint against unions as combinations in restraint of trade and deny unions recognition as of trade and deny unions recognition as legally protected organizationslegally protected organizations