Gilded Age Flashcards
worker rights and conditions, union power v employer, federal attitudes
position in 1865
-rights limited in what could be negotiated in the workplace, conditions poor and esp for immigrant labourers
-unions that did exist, small in nature, reserved privledge of skilled artisians (inclusivity)
-unskilled labour growing in demand, leased on contract systems allowed to be hired and fired as employer’s desires (employer power) earned 1/3 of wages skilled artsians did
WHAT is the first union federation (simple name)
National Labour Union, (NLU) est 1866 is the first union federation est. by Sylvis to organise the growing scale of labour
campaigned for 8 hours a day, a federal department of labour and restrictions on immigration (particualrly chinese) (unity)
did however endorse the c**ause of working women (elected female national officer and AA unionised **(despite AA being exluded from membership) grew 300,000 in two years, before it’s dissolution in 1869 the first cross-craft union looking to organise the frowing number of industry labourers
summary- first cross-craft union to try mass organisation of growing industrial force, gains good numbers but phases in 69, 300,000 members, inclusive-ish
conditions in 1870s
common layers hired and fired using contract system, all worked 12 hour in hazardous conditions, high accident rates, minimal comenspation for widowed or disabled workers (self-help schemes had to be made for sick)
health and safety measures too costly for employers concern and profit was only priority with child labour as young as 8 working in coal mines and mills
1869-KOL
gained momentum in membership under Powderly from 79, attempting to unite skilled and unskilled across racial barriers (10,000 women, 50,000 AA members)
camapaigned for 8 hour, equal pay, abolution of child labour through reforming legislation but soon striking actions proved successful too with Wabash Railroad strike meaning by 86 pre haymarket, they had 700,000 members
had political power with a dozen congressman in office due to their support so had union power and inclusivity
Haymarket Affair 86 introduces the ‘Red Scare’
EVENT- McCormick employees wanting 8 hour day in strikes, discuss at Haymarket Saqure to discuss police brutality against strikers, intented peaceful discussion police aggrivated and bomb was thrown into crowd, 8 anarchists convicted (despite assailant unknown) 4 executed despite allgeded involvement never proved, 3 remaining granted clemency from illinois governer
EFFECT- KOL blamed for anarchist act causing many to move to AFL or WASP-membership smaller unions, anomisity towards unions and immigrant labour, painted as ‘red scare’, KOL lose 100,000 members
later tho the tragedy of the executed men, inspired later labour generations to commemorate their campaign
AFL
est. in 1866, by Gompers with ‘bread and butter’ unionism focussing on skilled labourers approach practical goals e’g raising wages and reducing hours, by 1914 had 2 million members
1973 panic
Wall Street Crash rattles unions, dried of national resources to strike and unemployment to 14%, but in this industrial unrest and uncertainty, more workers join unions esp in railroad linking to Pullman strikes
immigration’s problems
immigrants more likely to accept lower wages and conditions e’g immigrant women 70 hours for $5, for unions this meant wages kept low and bargaining power weak
european migrants (majority) tension Italians and Germans ‘anarchists’ esp. after Haymarket Affair lots of german radicals involved, due to their red scare, immigrant labour remained majority of unskilled workforce and unorganised
AA problems
became a huge chunk of ‘scab labour’ (thwarting effects of strike action) due to their discriminatary exclusion from many local branches in AFL, excluded from work in closed shops for white unions and to compensate made black unions e’g NNL but ineffective till later BSCP due to inablity to infiltrate with white workers
Strike that took matter into own hands supported by KOL was Lousiana Sugar Cane Strike, leading to brutal massacre of 60 AA workers, keeping labour movements out of the south
Laissez-faire policy
-Lochner v New York 1905
Laissez-faire policy allowing monopolies e’g Carnegie Steal able ability to manipulate wages and working hours, supported by Lochner , New York ruling in 1905 SC favouring employers ruling state regulating worker conditions unconstitutional
Great Railroad Strike (first big national outbreak)
1877- wildcat strikes start in Balitmore and works all up the east railroad due to wage cuts, soon turns violent, looting and houses and property ablaze, many local militia sympathise so Haynes federal intervention, percieved as comme attack in media, diminishing initial efforts
effect- in precaution industrial employers begin curtailing rights on union activity , threatening strike breakers and the iron clad oath (loyalty to employers)
-yet more solidarity within the unions as more AA emitted less ‘scab labour’
Homestead strike
in 1892, in meeting confrontation between AA union (steel union) and Carnegie Steel Company a proposed wage rise was met with wage decrease from Frick (company leader) and AA members locked out from factories, KOL workers leave in solidaity and picked lines around plants to prevent scab labour
breaks out into shooting violence, Frick shot and 16 strike leaders arrested for conspiracy, AA as a union loses it’s support with no steel plant organised after and AA members not signed by employers.
sig cos first purposeful organised strike with plethora of support before violence condemns it
Pullman strike
- Industrialist Pullman, sporadic 25% wage cut and 1/3 laid off due to economic downturn, causing wildcat strike which Debs in ARU soon took on to organise and unionis those strikers, bringing railroad and Pullman carts to standstill
managers refuse to concede and recognise union, call in fed intervention to ostensibly ensure mail cart movement but mainly to break strikes and ARU officers and Debs arrested, strikers agree to return but many jobs not reinstated (racial tensions as AAs excluded so scab labour)
sig- employers at all costs to avoid collective bargaining, anarchist image given to ARU, continual fed intervention approved and leads to In Re Debs SC ruling
‘In Re Debs’ SC ruling
1895-upheld the use of government injunctions, new weapon disposed to employers, allowed to use injunctions to prevent union and strike activities (orders to claim their practice is against law e’g pullman strikes went against Sherman Act because it prevented trade)
‘Wobblies’ IWW est
1905, more militant socialist unionism, fought for poor illiterate worker rights membership 100,000 before collapse in 24
violent methods meant under constant gov. suspicion
