Workers in the late 19th century faced dangerous working conditions, long hours, and no benefits. They began organizing unions like the Knights of Labor to advocate for better treatment. Craft unions represented specific trades while industrial unions sought to represent all workers in an industry. Some unions like the IWW welcomed all races and genders. Major strikes in the 1870s-1890s turned violent as employers hired strikebreakers and the government intervened on their behalf, discouraging union membership. Nonetheless, women organizers like Mother Jones and Pauline Newman continued to lead important strikes to improve conditions.

1. Ch. 6 Section 3 contLabor Unions Emerge

2. Sherman Antitrust Act1890- Made it illegal to form a trust that interfered with free trade between states or with other countriesWas very hard to enforce because the act was not well written and companies found loop holesEventually the government gave up

3. Business Boom Bypasses the SouthThe South was still recovering from the civil war and had no capital to investThe North controlled most of the industry and the railroadsSouth remained agricultural an suffered from high transportation costs and high tariffs on raw materials

4. Labor UnionsWorkers joined together to try to improve their lotWorkers had long hours in very dangerous conditionsNo sick pay, compensation for injury, etcIn 1882 an average of 675 were killed at work a weekNumber of women and children working in factories increased (Sweat shops)

5. Early OrganizationFirst national organization was National Labor Union (NLU) 1866 by William H. SylvisPersuaded congress to legalize and 8 hour work day for government workersColored National Labor Union (CNLU) was created because some NLU chapters would not accept African AmericansKnights of Labor 1869- open to all workers no matter race, gender, or skill.“an injury to one is the concern of all”Advocated 8 hour work days and equal pay for men and women

6. Craft UnionismIncluded workers form one or more tradesAmerican Federation of Labor (AFL) Focused on collective bargaining, or negotiation between representatives of labor and managementUsed strikes as a major tactic

7. Industrial UnionismFelt that unions should include all laborers in an industry- skilled or unskilledAmerican Railway Union (ARU) Included unskilled laborers as well as engineersUsed strikes to gain higher wages

8. Socialism and the IWWSocialism: an economic and political system based on government control of business and property and equal distribution of wealthIndustrial Workers of the World (IWW)- WobbliesIncluded miners, lumberers, and cannery and dock workersWelcomed African American workers

9. Other UnionsSugar Beet and Farm Laborers’ Union of Oxnard- Japanese and Mexican workers of Ventura countyState Federation of Labor- Chinese and Japanese miners who wanted the same wages and treatment as other miners

10. Strikes Turn ViolentGreat Strike of 1877: Worker of B&O railroad protested wage cuts. Strike spread and all railroad traffic for 50,000 miles was stopped. President Hayes sent troops in to end the strikeHaymarket Affair: May 4, 1877 3,000 people gathered at Haymarket Square in Chicago to protest police brutality. Someone threw a bomb into the police line, and police opened fire.Caused some to turn against the labor movement

11. Violent Strikes Cont.Homestead Strike: Carnegie Steel workers called a strike after wages were cut. “Scabs” were hired, but workers forced them out and kept the plant closed. 3 detectives and 9 workers died.Pullman Company Strike: with the economic depression Pullman laid off 3,000 workers and cut wages in half without decreasing workers rent. ARU boycotted Pullman’s trains when he would not negotiate.Turned violent when strikebreakers were hiredPresident Cleveland sent in federal troops to end strikeMany strikers were fired or blacklisted

12. Women OrganizeMary Harris Jones (Mother Jones)- organized the United Mine Workers of America (UMW)Led 80 mill children with hideous injuries on a march to the home of President Roosevelt.Led to the passage of child labor lawsPauline Newman (16 years old) organized International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU)Organized a strike of 20,000 seamstresses

13. Pressure Against UnionsEmployers forbade union meetingsForced employees to sign “yellow-dog contracts” swearing they would not join a unionTurned Sherman Act against labor, saying strikes would harm interstate trade