9/20/12The Organization of LaborAt the end of the century…-Average income-21.6 cents per hour-Annual salary: $490-Average workweek: 59 hours-Factories maintained poor health and safety conditions resulting in a large number of fatalities and injuries – no “work man’s compensation”-Labor unions given a strong boost by the Civil War, mounting cost of living, etc.-1872: about 32 national unions existed-1877: only 9National Labor Union-1866-Organized under William H. Sylvis-Lasts 6 years, membership-Reached ~600,000 members-Included skilled and unskilled workers and farmers-Blacks were able to join in segregated units-Goals:-Social reform-8 hour day-Arbitration of disputes-Succeeded in winning 8 hour day for laborers and mechanics employed on behalf of the federal government-1869: Sylvis died, hurting success of Union-Panic of 1873 basically deals a knockout blow to the organizationMolly Maguires-1870s, Eastern Pennsylvania-Secret organization of miners-Aimed to right perceived wrongs against Irish workers -Bosses who received special treatment, etc. were murdered…up to 2,000 murders-Finally Chicago detective agency was hired to gather evidence on this group and was able to bring it down-10 men executedThe Noble Order of Knights of Labor -1869-Led by Uriah S. Stevens-First labor organization to achieve any kind of success-Open to skilled and unskilled workers, men and women (~10% of membership), whites and Blacks (~90,000 joined) -1878-1886: Terence V. Powderly, who was anti-strike, took over as leader, enjoyed a period of spectacular success-Membership denied to-Liquor dealers-Professional gamblers-Bankers and stockbrokers -Goals:-8 hour day -Abolition of child labor-Social and economic reform-Government ownership of public utilities-Exclusion of Chinese immigrants-Establishment of cooperatives Federation of Organized Trade & Labor-Established 1881-Changed name to American Federation of Labor (AFL)-Under leadership of Samuel Gompers-Consisted of self governing national unions – “union of unions” (no individual could join)-Purpose was to secure for labor a greater share of capitalism’s material rewards-Goals-Better wages and hours-Improved conditions for workers-Trade agreements authorizing the closed shopNational 8-hour day to be attained by May 1, 1886-Chief weapons this organization used were the walk-out/strike and boycottChicago becomes center of movementMay 3, 1996: International Harvester Plant became sit of unfortunate clash between strikers and policemen (1 striker killed, 7 police men killed)May 4, 1886: Leaders of anarchist movement in Chicago scheduled meeting at Haymarket Square to protest the killing. Police showed up and were bombed, killing one policeman and injuring others. Policemen fired into crowd, killing four.Many protesters sentenced to death.Decline of Knights of Labor-Powderly was anti-strike and would not give go-ahead to Knights of Labor to join in strike -Associated in the public mind with violence of Haymarket Square-Lost important strikes-Cooperatives failed-Quarreled over aims and methods between moderate and militant elements-Leadership becomes less effective-Lacked sufficient financial reserves for a “strike fund” (bailing members out of jail, etc.)Amalgamated Association of Iron & Steel Workers-Powerful steel workers union-The Homestead Works union provided a good relationship between workers and employers.-Henry Clay Frick became President in 1889 and announced a new wage scale that would have meant a reduction for many workers-Showdown came in 1892 when the Union contract was up for renewal-Andrew Carnegie cut costs by using labor saving devices but there is a deliberate attempt to crush the Union-Strike/lockout (workers barricaded themselves inside) of the Union began June 29, 1892-Frick hired 300 guards from Pinkerton Detective Agency who were really strikebreakers, which infuriated the workers-Shots were exchanged – 6 workers, 3 strikebreakers killed-State militia called in-Anarchist Alexander Berkman tried to “help out” by killing Frick, but failed and only wounded him-The Union was successfully crushed…not for another 45 years would an effective steel workers union be formed again.Pullman Strike (May 1894)-Pullman Palace Car Company (cars often carried mail)-Workers were forced to live in Pullman, Illinois and therefore forced to pay higher utility bills than if they lived in the country.-George Pullman lays off about 3000 of 5800 employees and lowered wages 20-25% but did not lower cost of living in Pullman, Illinois. -American Railway Union (founded by Eugene Debs) votes not to handle Pullman Cars-Railroad workers in 27 states go on strike and transportation between Chicago and the West Coast comes to a standstill-Attorney General Richard Olney swears in 400 special deputies to keep railways running-June 3: President Grover Cleveland answered railroads’ appeals-Governor of Illinois John Peter Altgeld-Attorney General gets injunction forbidding his interruption of mail, accusedof violating the Sherman Anti-Trust act of 1890, which forbade combinations in restraint of trade-700 freight cars had been burned, 100s people
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