The Union Strikes BackChapter 13 Sec 3 &4

The Story

All long time ago and in this galaxy there were Robber Barons who worked their workers very hard.

They made them work long days in poor conditions and paid them very little.

Anyone who went against them were Destroyed. (fired)

The Union Emerges

In order to better their positions the workers bonded together and created a Union.

Led by Eugene V. Debs theWorkers bonded together to fightFor better working conditions.

Business reacts

Business leaders like George Pullman resist the unions and fire union makers.

The Union STRIKES back

Unions go on strike (workers stop working) until their demands are met. These strikes would turn into long and sometimes violent battles.

Key Players

George Pullman Eugene V. Debs

Inventor/Industrialist Union LeaderCapitalistSocialist

A Shifting Population

The United States saw a large number of immigrants move into the county

Millions of people flocked to the cities in hopes of finding factory jobs

Working in America

Government employees worked 8 hour work days those that worked in private factories usually worked 12 hour days/6 days a week

Many workers were paid depending on how much they produced rather than their time. This system is called piecework

Many worked in sweatshops

Effective Companies

Factories wanted to make as much money as possible and used the following techniques to do so:

Division of Labor: Workers make one specific part of a product instead of the entire product

Assembly Lines: System where product is made one part at a time repetitively

Layoffs: Workers that were not essential were let go

Assembly Line Video Clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rG1JZZ4UkQ

Changing Relationship between Boss and Worker

With small companies workers and management met face to face every day but with large factories management rarely saw the workers and viewed them as interchangeable.

Working Environment

Strict rules with no flexibility. Workers could be fined or fired for: being late, talking or failing to complete a task.

Workers had no say over breaks, hours, pay, assignment

Work environments were often not safe, well lit or clean.

Children made up 5% of the work environment

Socialism

Workers and poor tired of watching the rich get richer began to support the idea of Socialism.

Socialism is a political system where the public owns everything rather than private companies.

Karl Marx is credited with coming up with the idea of Socialism in his book Communist Manifesto.

The Creation of Labor Unions

One worker held virtually no influence but together there voice had to be heard. When workers united together to form share in one goal it created a Union.

Weak Strong

Power of the Union

With large number workers could call a strike, where workers stop working and protest to prevent scabs from coming in.

Scab- Worker that comes in to replace a striking worker.

Collective Bargaining- Unions make a deal with companies for everyone as a whole rather than just one individual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hqP0c0_gw

Union Demands

Unions fought for:Higher Wages

Shorter Work Days Weekends off Safer work conditions

Breaks in the workday End of Child Labor & More

NFL Players Union

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmFU9iLAaLU

The Knights Of Labor

A National Union that looked to bring together all workers regardless of their skill set.

They recruited women and African Americans that other unions would refuse

Successfully held a strike against the railroads.

Lost popularity when some of their failed strikes turned violent

The American Federation of Labor

The AFL was a craft union where only workers in a specific area could join a union.

Did not let women in because they felt they would drive the prices for their workers down.

Supported boycotts where people would not give money to certain companies.

The Wobblies

Counter union to the AFL

Allowed everyone that would join in

Was radical with many socialist leaders had many violent strikes

Business Reacts

Many companies did not like unions so they..

1. Forbid Union Meetings 2. Fired Union Organizers 3. Forced new employees to sign

“yellow dog” contracts that said they would not join a union

4. Refused to bargain collectively 5. Refused to recognize unions

Union vs. Business

Unions Strike Part 1

Haymarket Strike of 1886- Over an 8 hour workday turned violent when anarchists who opposed all government joined.

The Police came when scabs tried to get in and caused a commotion. One anarchist threw a bomb into a police formation which lead to the Haymarket Riot.

Union Strikes Part 2

Homestead Strike- Carnegie was away and Henry Frick tried to lower wages leading to a strike. Frick hired men to break up the union which lead to a shootout.

People sympathized with the union until an anarchist tried to kill Frick.

Union Strikes Part 3

Pullman Strikes- George Pullman invented the sleeping railroad car. In order to attract labor he created a town just for his workers.

When times got tough he had to layoff workers and cut wages 25%. When workers complained he fired them causing the union to strike.

They turned to union leader Eugene V. Debs and were winning until the government made them stop claiming they were interfering with the mail.