Big Business and LaborThe Workplace, Strikes, and the Rise of Labor

Unions

Monopolies - exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular

market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices

Sherman Anti-Trust Act Tried to regulate anything

that created market monopolies by outlawing

any companies that interfered with the

governments ability to regulate interstate

commerce.

The Work Force

• Immigrants• Women• Children

Piece work

Paying factory workers for each finished product, rather than by a salary or hourly wage

Sweat shop

Long Hours, low wages, unsafe conditions

Division of labor

Breaking down jobs into small, simple, repetitive (and boring) parts

The Work Environment

• Dirty• Dangerous• Long Hours

Children at Work

• Jacob Riis• Work was

very dangerous for kids

• Dirty work environment led to health problems for kids

• Kids couldn’t attend school• Families needed the money• Kids were paid less

Growing Gulf Between the Rich and the Poor

• Socialism – redistribution of wealth

Rise of Labor Unions

• Knights of Labor – Skilled and Un-skilled Workers

• American Federation of Labor (AFL) – Led by Samual Gompers– No Blacks or Women– group of smaller craft

unions, only allowed skilled labor

• Wobblies – International Workers of the World, unskilled labor only

• Eugene V. Debs – anti-violence labor activist– Spent time in prison

for his roll in the Pullman strike

– Later became a socialist

– Ran for President 5 times!

Reactions

• Firing, forbidding, yellow dog contracts, refusing collective bargaining, refusing to recognize

Railroad Strike of 1877

• Prompted by wage cuts and increased safety hazards

• Workers respond with violence

• Rutherford sends in Federal Troops

Haymarket Riot - 1886

• Protest for an 8 hour day• SCABS VS STRIKERS• Anarchists – gave speeches against “factory lords”• Violence erupts, strikers and police are killed• 8 Anarchists are arrested, and four are hung

Homestead Strike – 1892

• Strikers vs. Wage cuts in a Carnegie owned steel mill

• Carnegie’s 2nd in Command cuts wages while Carnegie is out of the country

• US Steel calls in the Pinkertons, a shootout ensues

• Public sympathize with the strikers until the anarchists arrive and attempt to assassinate Frick

• The public begins to associate unions and strike with anarchists and violence

Pullman Strike – 1894

• Pullman built a model city to attract the best workers

• Wage cuts lead to protest

• Strikes spread to the whole nation, disrupting the mail service

• Pullman appeals to the Federal Government for help

• Government helps because the strikers are interfering with the mail.

• This sets the pattern of government response to strikes for years to come.