LABOR ORGANIZATION AND POWERCan Americans still value capitalism while empowering workers?

Origins of Unions• Trade Unions

Trade Unions

Workers’ Unions AFL

• Workers organized by profession then as workers across industries then across the country.• Originated as guilds then secret societies.• Soon required government support to exist (not received until 1910)

Difficulties of Organizing Labor• Fear of losing jobs if joined union• Unwillingness to strike because of loss of pay• Public denounced unions as anti-capitalist• Strategies like boycotts and strikes disrupt life for the

public (consumers) as well as company owners.• The Press and government frequently supported

companies over workers.• Labor organizers stigmatized by fear of socialism.

Effects of Immigration• Immigrants undermined union demand for higher wages• Provide Scab labor• Immigrants attracted by the de-skilling of jobs as

technology advanced• Immigration allowed companies to rely on unskilled, low-

paid workers• 1885 Congress disallows contract labor (immigrants to

come to America under contract to a company)

FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SLIDESWhat do you learn about the strike?

Does the creator of the image provide support for the workers or reveal sympathy for the company owners/capitalists?

Haymarket Strike

Chicago, 1886

Haymarket-1886• May 4th 1886• Rally for workers in support of 8-hour day• Bomb thrown at police as they tried to disperse crowd• Ensuing gunfire resulted in death of 7 policemen and at

least 4 civilians• 8 anarchists convicted of conspiracy despite no evidence

tying them to the thrower of the bomb

Homestead Strike

Caption: The mob assailing the Pinkerton men on their Way to prison.

Homestead Strike (1892)• June 30-July 6th

• Workers locked out of steel factory• Frick hired Pinkerton detectives to protect scab labor• Union struck and chased Pinkerton detectives from

factory• Governor sent in militia to break up strike• 4 strike organizers prosecuted• Union (Amalgamated Steel) broke up soon after, partially

because Afof L refused to support.

Pullman Strike

Pullman Strike 1894• American Railway Union (ARU) v. Pullman Co., and U.S.

gov’t• Began May 11, eventually involved 250,000 workers in 27

states• Troops sent in when strikers disobeyed court order to end

strike and boycott• 30 strikers killed• Most public opinion and media coverage against the strike

Ludlow Strike

Tent camp forStrikers at LudlowMine in Colorado

Ludlow Strike 1914• Rockefeller-owned mine and oil well in Colorado• Strike called for better wages, conditions and union

recognition• 14-hour face off between strikers and management• State militia called in and torched tent camp• Rockefeller testifies that miners had not complained of

conditions• By 1915, Rockefeller goes to miner camps

Fears of Labor Tactics• As you watch this video about the men punished for the

bombing at Haymarket, respond to these questions:• 1. Why were industrialists’ fears of revolution

understandable?• 2. Explain how industrialists believed their right to property

was under threat.

• Consequences of Haymarket

Cities Become a Forum• As urbanization expanded and more people moved into

cities, the unions had opportunities to gain sympathy and to recruit supporters.