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Chapter 24 B Labor Unions and Strikes

Chapter 24 B Labor Unions and Strikes. Positive and Negative Effects of Unionism. Positive: Standard of living is higher Jobs are available Negative: Rise in immigration (cheap wages) Job competition (nativism rises) * Union : a group of workers that fight for a common cause

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Chapter 24 B Labor Unions and Strikes

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  1. Chapter 24 B Labor Unions and Strikes

  2. Positive and Negative Effects of Unionism Positive: • Standard of living is higher • Jobs are available Negative: • Rise in immigration (cheap wages) • Job competition (nativism rises) *Union: a group of workers that fight for a common cause *Collective Bargaining: (1) (2)

  3. Employers “controlling” Unions / Factors that LIMIT the success of Labor Unions • Yellow Dog Contracts / Ironclad Oaths– swearing an oath they will NOT join a Union • Blacklist – if you are part of or leader of a union against the productivity of a business, you are placed on this list / difficult for you to get a job • Lockout: owner tells the employees not to bother showing up until they agree to a pay cut • Scabs: Strikebreakers (hired to continue economy of business while strikers are not working) • Company Towns (used by: • *SCRIP* = town money used at town store • Given “EASY CREDIT”…thus keeping workers in debt and can’t get out! • Interstate Commerce: a company claims strikers are affecting interstate commerce and the federal government comes running!

  4. Early Labor Unions (Post Civil War) National Labor Union (NLU) 1866 – • refused African Americans as members • Skilled and unskilled (Trade unionism) • Leader: William Sylvis Tactics: • Lobbied Congress, not the Employers • Used *Arbitration (settled by a mediator / not injunction (federal government) • MAIN LEGACY: 8 hours a day (Originally pushed by Populist…later adopted by Democrats)

  5. Knights of Labor • Began in secrecy, and then publically emerged in 1882 • Beliefs: (1) EQUALITY = Equal pay for equal work (2) ACCEPTED EVERYONE…(women and African Americans) / “skilled AND unskilled” Leader: Terrence Powderly (3) DID NOT USE STRIKES – refusal to work, as a LAST resort (favored non-violence) (4) Practiced Arbitration “Injury to one is the concern of all”

  6. Haymarket Square Riot • Chicago, 1886 • Anarchists call for change! • Before: American public supported the Labor Movement • After: American public “turned” on the Labor Movement due to: VIOLENCE! • Outcome: • (1) KOL were blamed for the intermingled anarchists’ regime against the federal government • (2) Governor John P. Atgeld “pardoned” the sentenced anarchists (unpopular and cost him reelection)

  7. The AF of L (American Federation of Labor) • Leader: Samuel Gompers (1886) • Main agenda: USE STRIKES ALL THE TIME • Membership: Housed ONLY skilled workers. • Justification: unskilled laborers would weaken the Union Labor Day (1894) granted, ironically, workers a day off of work

  8. American Railway Union (ARU) / Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) • Leader - EUGENE V. DEBS (SOCIALIST) • *STRIKES WERE USED! “The Strike is the weapon of the oppressed” Eugene V. Debs

  9. Socialism and I.W.W Socialism – an economic system in which the government controls business and property / less extreme version of communism • Individuals do not work for themselves, but live in corporation of one another Purpose: Overthrow Capitalism • Pro: total equality regardless of physical differences • Con: hard workers get no support “EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH” • INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD (IWW) ****************Example of Socialist Union********************* Formed in 1905 and used through WWI • Mostly Unskilled workers • Leader: Eugene V. Debs • Nickname: Wobblies • Used STRIKES….all the time! (USED VIOLENCE) • * Socialist Unions – EUGENE V. DEBS!!!!!!!!

  10. Women Organize Fighting for: • Better working conditions • Equality • End of child labor ****MAIN LEADER: MARY HARRIS JONES (MOTHER) • To expose the cruelties of child labor – Mary Harris Jones led a march of 80 mill children to the home of President Teddy Roosevelt….this crusade influenced the passage of Child Labor Laws

  11. Triangle Shirtwaste Factory Fire • March 25, 1911 (New York City) • Oil-drenched machines caught on fire! (conditions) • Company locked all of the doors *(Crime / force) • 146 women died (from fire or jumping) • MAJOR EFFECT/ Public Reaction: a task force was set up to study working conditions of many industries in New York * spurred the growth of improved factory conditions and safety standards

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