Labor Unions

Organized Labor

Working conditions had worsened

Laborers began organizing in hopes of changing big business policies

Over two million people had joined by 1904

Labor Unions Emerge

Knights of Labor Improve well-being of skilled and unskilled industrial laborers Membership open to all 8 hour day, end child labor, at first against strikes

American Federation of Labor

-fight for higher wages, safer conditions and the right of the union to represent workers in bargaining with employers

-invited only skilled white male workers

Industrial Workers of the World

-extreme labor union-socialist

-Wobblies

-Eugene Debs-abolition of the wage system

Business Responds to Labor

Businesses displayed fierce resistance to unions’ fight for more money and power

Gained support by popular opinion, laissez-faire, and a continual supply of labor

Viewed as socialist-led to suspicion

Many union leaders were arrested

Strikes and Violence

Relations between business and labor declined-more unions went on strike

Resulted in violence between police and striking workers

Unions ultimately succeeded in setting maximum work hours and providing worker’s compensation. By 1912 child labor laws were in place in 38 states.

Strikes and Riots

Great Railroad Strike-1877-rail workers go on strike, many killed by federal troops.

Haymarket Square Riot-Deadly bombing in 1886-related to a strike at the McCormick Harvester plant.

Homestead Strike-Steel company in PA-1890-led by steel workers.

Pullman Strike-1894-manufactured rail cars-workers organized strikes due to pay cuts.