Trade Union Revision Flashcards
Who was the president of the Iron Moulders’ International Union in 1863?
William H Slyvis - first attempted mass membership across craft lines
What did Slyvis’ IMIU develop into?
The 1866 National Labour Union (NLU). 300,000 members by 1868. Rejected AAs
How many women were in the workforce in 1890?
35% (all unskilled)
How much would an unskilled labourer earn in comparison to an artisan in the 1880s?
1/3 the wage
How many railroad workers were killed in 1889 through accidents?
2000
When and who founded the Knights of Labor (KoL)?
1869, Uriah Smith Stevens
Who took over the KoL in 1879, and how did his agenda differ from Stevens’?
Terence V. Powderly - tried to unite skilled and unskilled workers, inc. women. Demanded 8 hr day, equal pay and abolition of child labour
What did V Powderly scrap in 1885?
anti-strike policy - Wabash railroad strike.
What was the membership of the KoL in 1886?
1886: 700,000 (incl. 10,000 women and 50,000 AAs)
Who founded the AFL (and when?)
Samuel Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor in 1886
What were the aims of the AFL?
- 8 hour day
- Utility of strikes and protests
- Industry giants worked alongside
What did the AFL membership reach in 1914?
2 million. Rejected racism, too
What union developed to protect the interests of AAs?
The National Negro Labour Union - White groups would not affiliate with
What group represented teamsters, chauffers, warehousemen and helpers of America?
Teamsters Union
what did the Industry Workers of the World represent?
poor and illiterate workers. Formed in Chicago 1905; generally militant - not trusted by employers
What was the Haymarket Affair 1886?
Violence between workers and the McCormick harvester plant, which led to 4 casualties. The following day, a riot held in the town square saw a bomb thrown into a crowd, killing 7 police officers (four more rioters were killed in crossfire). 8 were arrested, 5 executed.
What fear arose from the Haymarket affair?
Xenophobia + fear of anarchism
What happened in the Homestead Strike, 1892
Strike, lasting 143 days, between AAISW (Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers) and the Carneige Steel Co. The union called for a wage rise, which was met with a 22% cut. Collective bargaining failed, leading to a lockout by Frick. Scab labour employed + opposed by strikes by AAISW - led to Pinkerton Investigation leading to 13 casualties. State militia broke the strike, leading to arrests and fines. Frick was assassinated by an anarchist, furthering hatred towards unions - membership fell from 24,000 to 6,300 by 1909 (from 1891)
What happened during the Pullman Strike, 1894?
- Wage cuts and 1/3rd force laid off.
- ARU (American Railway Union) created by Eugene Debs united US railway workers to hold a general strike against Pullman sleeper coaches.
- Government (Cleveland) intervened to support Pullman - feds to break strike.
What are the statistics for Trade Union membership in 1900, 1910 and 1920?
500,000
2 million
5 million
What marked the (temporary) end to laissez faire capitalism?
Wilson’s creation of the Department of Labor
What did the Clayton Anti-Trust Act bring?
Limited the use of court injunctions against striking unions
How many immigrants entered the country between 1900-1930?
18 million
When did oriental immigration end?
Chinese: 1882
Japanese: 1907
Name a few monopolies
Andrew Carneige (steel) John D Rockerfeller (oil)
What was brought in to end monopolies?
Sherman anti-trust Act
How were strikes usually broken?
Use of injunctions
What did Lochner Vs New York conclude?
It would be a violation of the 14th amendment to bring in the 10 hour working day (as it violated the worker’s right to select the amount of hours to work)