The “New Unionism”I. OverviewII. Radical Unions
A. IWWB. Garment Workers
III. Industrial Strikes, 1909-1916A. SteelB. TextileC. Garment
IV. Explaining outcomesA. Union organizationB. Public opinionC. EmployersD. Institutionalism
Overview
• Workers– Immigrants,
blacks, & women
• Jobs– Semi-skilled
factory labor
• Units– Industrial
unions
Striking laundry workers, Chicago, 1903
IWW
• Western Federation of Miners
• IWW founded 1905 as response to AFL
• SyndicalismWFM leaders, Pettibone, Haywood, and Moyer, on trial, 1907
Garment Workers• Workers
– Immigrants• Eastern European
Jews• Lithuanians• Italians
– Women
• Unions– International
Ladies Garment Workers
– United Garment Workers
Steel Members of PA constabulary, 1909
“Bloody corner”McKee Rocks, PA, 1909
↓
Textile
• Lawrence
• Lowell
• Patterson
Clothing• 1909
– 20K shirtwaist workers
• 1910– 60K NYC
cloak-makers
– 40K in Chicago
• 1911– 150K
workersRochester, 1913
OrganizationGarment
workers:
• Avoid factionalism– Amalgamat
ed
• Retain ties to AFL establishment
Chicago garment workers in Labor Day parade, 1915
Public Opinion
• Machismo v. Maternalism
• Radical Chic v. Middle-class Morality
• Triangle Fire, 1911
Employers• Garment
manufacturers and retailers were often German Jews
• Heavily involved in reform movements
• Connection to workers creates sense of responsibility
Edward A. Filene
Institutionalism
• IWW Syndicalism
versus
• ACWA Brandeis-ism
ACWA members thank leader Sidney Hillman, 1915
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