Trade Unions And Labour Rights Flashcards
What is a trade union?
Are a means to represent a profession. It is when workers can “collectively bargain” with their employers in order to achieve aims relating to factors such as pay, working conditions ect.
What is the difference between union and labour rights?
Union rights are the rights of workers as a whole
Labour rights are the rights of the individual worker
What was the Haymarket Affair?
May 1886 strikers from the McCormick Harvester Plant in Chicago clashed with police leading to deaths of four workers
Strike had been part of a national campaign for an eight hour working day
When was the Haymarket Affair?
May 1886
Who was blamed for the Haymarket Affair?
Bombing blamed on German anarchists and eight were arrested
Consequences of the Haymarket Affair:
Case fed into a growing national resentment towards foreign immigrants
Turned public opinion against labour unions that were thought to be linked to this foreign conspiracy
Haymarket affair is significant for two key reasons:
Demonstrated how violently the authorities were when reacting to strikes and union protests
When was the Homestead Strike?
1892
What was the Homestead Strike?
Strike took place at the Homestead Steel Work in Pennsylvania from 30th June and lasted 143 days
Organised by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel workers (AA) and the Carnegie Steel Company
The Homestead Strike damaged progress towards the recognition of labour and union rights for a number of reasons:
AA was left almost bankrupt and broken as a force in the labour movement
Drink prevented new AA branches forming in the Homestead plant and Carnegie Steel general, remained non-Union for 40 years
By 1900, not a single steel plant in Pennsylvania remained unionised
AA membership fell from 24,000 in 1891 to 6,300 in 1909
What was the Haymarket Affair?
May 1886 strikers from the McCormick Harvester Plant in Chicago clashed with police leading to deaths of four workers
Strike had been part of a national campaign for an eight-hour working day
When was the Haymarket Affair?
May 1886
Who was blamed for the Haymarket Affair?
Bombing blamed on German anarchists and eight were arrested
Consequences of the Haymarket Affair:
Case fed into a growing national resentment towards foreign immigrants
Turned public opinion against labour unions that were thought to be linked to this foreign conspiracy
Haymarket Affair is significant for two key reasons:
Demonstrated how violently the authorities were when reacting to strikes and union protests
Demonstrated the tension that existed in the USA at the end of the 19th Century towards the increasing flow of immigrants
When was the Homestead Strike?
1892
What was the Homestead Strike?
Strike took place at the Homestead Steel Work in Pennsylvania from 30th June and lasted 143 days
Organised by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (AA) and the Carnegie Steel Company.
The Homestead Strike damaged progress towards the recognition of labour and union rights for a number of reasons:
AA was left almost bankrupt and broken as a force in the labour movement
Frick prevented new AA branches forming in the Homestead plant and Carnegie Steel general, remained non-union for 40 years
By 1900, not a single steel plant in Pennsylvania remained unionised
AA membership fell from 24,000 in 1891 to 6,300 in 1909
When was the Pullman strike?
May 11, 1894
What was the Pullman strike?
Nationwide railroad strike in the US on May 11, 1894
Significant progress in the growth on Union and Labour rights was made between 1865 and 1914:
1900 = 500,000 trade union members. 1910 = 2 million members. 1920 = 5 million
Unions, particularly the AFL had some success applying pressure to local elections and in 1912 to the Presidential election - Woodrow Wilson was elected and created a new department of Labour
Limited labour and union rights by 1914:
Unions represented only 20% of the non-agricultural workforce
Many industries, such as steel and car manufacturing, did not have unions
Although there were often negotiations between employers and unions, many of the unions were not legally recognised
Workers were divided by ethnicity, gender and level of skill - divisions were exploited by workers
Gains that had been made were more often limited to white, male, skilled workers
Lack of progress can be attributed to a range of factors throughout the gilded age:
Divisions within the workforce of skilled and unskilled labour
Actions of businessmen and employers
Immigration and racial tensions
Militancy within the labour unions
Actions of state and federal authorities
What were the main issues and problems in the workplace that would have encouraged workers to join unions in the Gilded Age?
Pay Cuts
Working hours
Safety at work
Wages
Why did the adoption of laissez-faire economic policies by the federal government make it more difficult for workers to develop unions and improve their labour rights in the Gilded Age?
“Hands off” approach gave employers independence to deal with strikes aggressively. This made it more difficult for labour rights to improve as they lacked support from the government.
How did the rise of ‘nativism’ in the USA undermine the development of trade unions?
Rise of ‘nativism’ in the USA undermined the development of trade unions as it increased immigration and racial tensions within trade unions, as it increased a growing national sense of resentment towards foreign immigrants from WASPs
For example, Haymarket Affair and Homestead Strike, weakened unions due to association with European anarchists
What would unions need to change or do differently to be more successful after 1914?
Remain united and appeal to the Federal government
Be more appreciative of public opinion
Influence politics
Gilded Age did improve the position of workers and unions:
Wages rose dramatically with an increase of 60% for some skilled workers
American industry overtook that of Britain to become the largest producer in the world
Unions such as the Knights of Labour saw a considerable increase in membership - from 20,000 in 1881 to 700,000 by 1886
AFL formed in 1886 and was the first successful national labour federation - aimed to link all unions together
Unions were able to extend their power into politics at both local and national level
Sickness clubs were formed
Gilded Age did not improve the position of workers and unions:
Period of growing inequality and poverty for the workforce - 2% of the population owned 30% of the wealth
Workers had few rights
Increase in mechanisation in the economy decreased the demand for skilled labour whilst the wages of unskilled labour were around 30% of those of skilled workers
Number of violent strikes damaged the reputations of unions
Governments laissez-faire approach to the economy meant that workers were denied protective legislation
Increase in industrialisation in the USA:
Between 1860 and 1900 number of industrial workers increased from 885,000 to 3.2 million
Production moved increasingly from skilled workshops to factory production lines
Large workforce of semi and unskilled workers developed - these workers had no representation in the workplace
How had the US Civil War encouraged industrialisation?
Gave massive contracts to industrial businesses
Improved communications by rail and telegraph
Improved financial system by introducing national currency
Population of the US grew from 40 million in 1870 to … in 1900?
76 million
What caused much growth between 1870 and 1900?
Immigration - accounted for a third
What did the federal government do to aid industrial growth after 1865?
High tariffs, especially on Steel
Supreme Court was pro business
Granted land to rail companies
Free trade area within America
Gained greater land from NA
Why was 1913 a significant year in American industrialisation?
Produced 1/3 of the worlds industrial output
How did the growth of the railways contribute to industrialisation?
Allowed national brands to grow by creating an integrated market
Created time zones
Increased job opportunities
Why was the average standard of living for an American worker “among the highest in the world”?
Industrial competition reduced prices
Why were conditions poor for workers?
No pensions - lack of protection and rights
No compensation - many injuries due to conditions
On average, 35,000 workers died each year at work, most in the world
Boom and bust cycle with depressions created job insecurities
Long working hours, 60 hours a week
What was the name of the first national worker’s union?
The Knights of Labour
What kind of workers were members of the American Federation of Labour?
10 % of members were iron and steel workers - generally skilled white men
What did unions want the US to do?
Imagine freedom more broadly
Argue for everyone to enjoy freedom there had to be more equality
Knights of Labour:
Largest and one of the most important American labour organisation of the 1880s.
What were the aims of the Knights of Labour?
Promoted the social and cultural uplift of the workingman, rejected socialism and anarchism, demanded the eight hour day, and promoted the producers ethic of republicanism
Successes of the Knights of labour:
Successful strike by the Knights against Jay Gould’s south-western railroad system in 1884 brought a flood of new members
Failures of the Knights of Labour:
Bomb explosion at a workers rally at Haymarket square, on May 4th triggered a national wave of arrests and repression.
Labour activism of every kind suffered a setback, and the Knights were particularly, though unfairly, singled out for blame
By 1900, virtually non-existent
When was the Knights of Labour founded:
Founded by Uriah Stephens on December 28, 1869
Reached 28,000 members in 1880 which then jumped to 100,000 in 1884.
By 1886, 20% of all workers were affiliated with the KOL, reaching nearly 800,000 members
Most important leader was Terence Powderly
When was the American Federation of Labour founded?
Founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers
Who were members of the American Federation of Labour?
Only recruited skilled workers, particularly white men, not very inclusive
What were the aims of the American Federation of Labour?
Focussed on practical, “bread and butter” issues - less political and more conservative
Wanted higher wages
Better working conditions
Sick pay
What methods did the American Federation of Labour use?
Used methods such as collective bargaining and strikes - took part in over 20,000 strikes and predominantly achieved their aims
Successes of the American Federation of Labour:
Successful as represented much needed skilled labour
In 1904, 1.7 million members, rising to over 4 million in 1920
More moderate union therefore had greater understanding with the federal government
Largest membership and were successful with strikes
Failures of the American Federation of Labour:
Hostile towards immigrants, particularly Chinese immigrants
When were the Industrial Workers of the World founded?
Founded in Chicago, July 1905, by William D Hayward (from the miners union)
Why were the Industrial Workers of the World Founded?
As a response to more of the economy being controlled by big corporations
What were the aims of the Industrial Workers of World?
Promoted worker solidarity to overthrow capitalists
Politically motivated by socialist views thus were a radical union
Methods of the Industrial Workers of World:
More militant organisation and had a reputation for violence, creating hostility from the employers towards trade unions
Also, due to tactics were banned in many states
Who were members of the Industrial Workers of the World:
Particularly appealed to unskilled workers and immigrants, for example had a Finnish newspaper.
Around 100,000 members in 1912 but plummeted to 30,000 in 1919, as seen as unpatriotic following the war
What do reactions of employers and the federal government to unions reveal?
Unsympathetic to causes thus prepared to enforce violence.
Violence came from government, employers and unions
Impact of WW1 on workers:
Generally argued that during WW1, the position of workers improved in the USA.
American industry experienced a boom in demand as there was greater need to produce textiles, uniforms, steel and munitions.
Between 1914 and 1918, factory production in the US increased by 35%
Prices rose but wages increased by 20% meaning that workers’ standard of living remained high
Government attitude during WW1:
Signs of a more sympathetic and cooperative attitude from the Federal Government towards labour and union rights
In 1918, Woodrow Wilson established the National War Labour Board (NWLB) which was designed to settle disputes between workers and employers without having to resort to strikes that would slow down wartime production.
The board helped to settle over 1,000 disputes and negotiated an eight-hour working day in return for a no-strike policy from unions and workers
What impact did WW1 have on unions:
Union membership increased from 2.7 million in 1916 to 5 million by 1920
What progress was made in the development of labour and union rights during the 1920s:
During the 1920s real wages increased and unemployment fell
Workers also had access for the first time to mass produced consumer goods e.g. Cars and cookers
With these developments, many of the causes of industrial unrest declined
