Objective 2.3 -- Workers and Labor Unions

Summary

The Gilded Age saw the exploitation of labor with low wages and dangerous conditions, prompting the formation of labor unions like the National Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, advocating for better wages and conditions. The American Federation of Labor and the Industrial Workers of the World emerged, representing skilled and unskilled workers, respectively. Unions used collective bargaining and strikes to negotiate with employers, leading to significant labor events like the Great Strike of 1877 and the Pullman Strike. These movements influenced business decisions and politics, leading to the establishment of Labor Day to honor the labor movement's contributions.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The Gilded Age saw the exploitation of labor with new technologies replacing skilled and unskilled workers, leading to low wages and poor working conditions.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families, including children, had to work long hours in dangerous conditions to survive, with a high risk of injury or death.
• 👷‍♂️ Workers demanded change and began to consolidate into labor unions to negotiate better wages and conditions with their employers.
• 🔗 The National Labor Union (NLU) was one of the earliest labor unions in the U.S., advocating for an eight-hour workday.
• 🤝 The Knights of Labor focused on individual workers and called for equal pay for women, highlighting the early push for gender equality in the workforce.
• 🛠️ The American Federation of Labor (AFL), founded by Samuel Gompers, organized skilled labor in craft unions, emphasizing the value of specific skills to employers.
• 🌎 The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), led by Eugene V. Debs, represented unskilled labor and called for a radical socialist revolution against capitalist greed.
• 🤝 Collective bargaining was a key strategy used by unions to negotiate with employers, leveraging the strength of numbers for better outcomes.
• 🚫 Strikes were used as a powerful tool by unions to pressure firms by threatening to shut down operations and causing economic loss.
• 📅 Several defining events in labor history include the Great Strike of 1877, the Haymarket Affair in 1886, and the Pullman Strike, which led to federal intervention and the assertion of government power.
• 🎉 Labor unions have become a significant political force, influencing business decisions and shaping political discourse around workers' rights and conditions, culminating in the establishment of Labor Day.

Q & A

What was the dark side of the success of big business during the Gilded Age?

The dark side was the exploitation of labor, where new technologies and innovations made workers less valuable, leading to low wages, dangerous working conditions, and the use of child labor.

Why were children more prone to injury during the Gilded Age?

Children were more prone to injury because they were able to manipulate machinery in ways adults could not, such as reaching into machines to fix them without taking them apart, which made their work more dangerous.

What were the main demands of the National Labor Union (NLU)?

The main demand of the NLU was for an eight-hour workday for all workers, as they typically worked 12 to 14 hours a day.

What was the focus of the Knights of Labor regarding equal pay?

The Knights of Labor focused on individuals and called for equal pay for women, highlighting gender equality in the workforce.

Who founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and what was its approach to organizing labor?

The AFL was founded by labor leader Samuel Gompers and organized skilled labor through craft unionism, where workers had specific skills that were valuable to their bosses.

What is the difference between craft unionism and industrial unionism as represented by the AFL and the IWW?

Craft unionism, represented by the AFL, organizes skilled labor with specific skills, making them more valuable and harder to replace. Industrial unionism, represented by the IWW, organizes unskilled and semi-skilled laborers, focusing on a broader range of workers in factories.

What was the goal of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and its founder, Eugene V. Debs?

The IWW, led by Eugene V. Debs, aimed to organize unskilled and semi-skilled laborers and believed that capitalist greed had failed American workers. They called for a radical socialist revolution in America.

What is collective bargaining and why is it important for unions?

Collective bargaining is when unions negotiate deals with their bosses as a group, leveraging strength in numbers to gain more power in negotiations and achieve better conditions for workers.

What is a strike and how was it used by labor unions to pressure firms?

A strike is a work stoppage used by unions to pressure firms by shutting down their factories, threatening the loss of profits, and demanding better conditions or wages.

What were some significant events that defined the era of labor organizing in the United States?

Significant events include the Great Strike of 1877 over wage cuts, the Haymarket affair in 1886 which turned violent, and the Pullman Strike where workers struck against the town created by George Pullman.

Why is Labor Day celebrated and what does it commemorate?

Labor Day is celebrated at the end of August and early September every year to commemorate the contributions of the labor movement in America, recognizing the efforts to improve working conditions and rights for workers.