The Rise of Organized The Rise of Organized LaborLabor

A response of workers to A response of workers to industrializationindustrialization

Changes in WorkChanges in Work

Changes in WorkChanges in Work

• More machine-orientedMore machine-oriented

• Less need for skilled laborLess need for skilled labor

• Workers more easily replaceableWorkers more easily replaceable

• Work more monotonousWork more monotonous

• Less personal satisfaction of Less personal satisfaction of craftsmanshipcraftsmanship

• Workplace separate from homeWorkplace separate from home

Impersonal Relationship with Impersonal Relationship with BossBoss

Poor Working ConditionsPoor Working Conditions

Child LaborChild Labor

Low PayLow Pay

The Knights of Labor (A large The Knights of Labor (A large Union)Union)

Goals of the Knights of Goals of the Knights of LaborLabor• Eight-hour workday.Eight-hour workday.• Workers’ cooperatives.Workers’ cooperatives.• Worker-owned factories.Worker-owned factories.• Abolition of child and prison labor.Abolition of child and prison labor.• Increased circulation of greenbacks.Increased circulation of greenbacks.• Equal pay for men and women.Equal pay for men and women.• Safety codes in the workplace.Safety codes in the workplace.• Prohibition of contract foreign labor.Prohibition of contract foreign labor.• Abolition of the National Bank.Abolition of the National Bank.

Trouble At Haymarket Riot in Trouble At Haymarket Riot in Chicago 1886Chicago 1886

Haymarket MartyrsHaymarket Martyrs

Effect of the Haymarket RiotEffect of the Haymarket Riot

• Many people associate labor unions Many people associate labor unions with anarchists or other radical with anarchists or other radical groupsgroups

• Anarchist – someone who wants all Anarchist – someone who wants all forms of government eliminatedforms of government eliminated

• Socialist – someone who wants the Socialist – someone who wants the “means of production” (factories and “means of production” (factories and farms) controlled by the governmentfarms) controlled by the government

The “Formula

”

The “Formula

”

unions unions + violence + strikes + socialists + violence + strikes + socialists + immigrants immigrants = anarchistsanarchists

Labor Union MembershipLabor Union Membership

The American Federation of The American Federation of LaborLabor

• Different than the Different than the Knights (only for Knights (only for skilled laborers)skilled laborers)

• Made up of a Made up of a collection of trade collection of trade unionsunions

• Used collective Used collective bargainingbargaining

Women at WorkWomen at Work

• Sometimes form their own unionsSometimes form their own unions

• Mother Jones is a labor organizerMother Jones is a labor organizer

• ILGWU organizes garment workersILGWU organizes garment workers

• Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York in 1911 leads to reformsYork in 1911 leads to reforms

Government and LaborGovernment and Labor

• Many strikes in the late 19Many strikes in the late 19thth century/early 20century/early 20thth century century

• Government often influenced by big Government often influenced by big businessbusiness

• Government often sided with big Government often sided with big business in quashing (putting down) business in quashing (putting down) the strikesthe strikes

Pullman Strike 1894Pullman Strike 1894