This document discusses the history of labor unions and strikes in the United States. It describes how early unions like the Knights of Labor organized all workers to negotiate for better conditions like an 8-hour workday and the end of child labor. Other major unions included the AFL which organized local unions nationally and the IWW or "Wobblies" which took a more socialist approach. The document outlines some major strikes in US history, including the Haymarket Riot of 1886 over the 8-hour day and violence between police and strikers, the Homestead Steel Strike of 1892 where management brought in armed guards, and the Pullman Strike of 1894 where a company town wage cut led to halted railroad traffic nationwide.

1. Labor Unions & StrikesUnited States History

2. Three Choices for Workers…Continue in miseryJoin a Union and possibly get fired or even killedBecome a communist and start a revolution

3. SocialismPublic control of property & incomeSociety should be in charge of wealthWealth should be redistributed equallyKarl Marx & Frederick EngelsHow to get this done? Workers revolution

4. Could This Happen In America?How could this help workers?Who would be against Socialism/Communism in America?This is radical—is there something less radical that would help workers?

5. Less Radical—Labor UnionsUnions: improve working conditions (not overthrow the system)Collective BargainingStrikes (last resort)Best—national strikeWhy was this appealing to workers?

6. Knights of LaborFirst important national unionWanted to organize ALL workers: skilled, unskilled and of all backgrounds (no racial restrictions)Set the example: negotiate, then strike if neededGoals: 8 hour day; end of child laborLost influence after violent strikes

7. Other UnionsAmerican Federation of Labor (AFL): Smaller local unions with a national organizationWages, hours, conditionsStrikes, collective bargainingBarred African-AmericansIndustrial Workers of the World (IWW)WobbliesSocialists

8. Wobblies View of the World

9. Employers’ ReactionNo Union MeetingsUnion organizers firedBlacklistingYellow Dog contractsWould not bargain collectivelyStrikes met with violence

10. The Great StrikesHaymarket Riot (1896)—8 hour workday (national strike); scabs hired in Chicago (fights); rally—bombing & gunfight btw. Police & strikers; Ill. Law: help with murder, then you are a murderer: 4 anarchists hanged for murder (one blew himself up in prison). Never determined who threw the bomb.Homestead Strike (1892)—Carnegie Steelworkers called a strike (factory cut their wages) & were fired; management sent in “private” police force (fight with deaths); strike called offPullman Strike (1894): Company town; wages cut 25% (Panic of 1893); food prices in town NOT cut; Pullman fired three negotiators; strike; al RR traffic halted; strike ordered illegal because mail couldn’t get through

11. Try to negotiate a labor contract (2 on each side)Activity: