Labor and Big business

the Knights of Labor

a. Identification
founded by Uriah stephens in 1869. Membership was open regardless of race, gender, or degree of skill. Advocated 8 hour workday and advocated "equal work for equal pay" between men and women. Believed strikes were last resort, at height in 1886, had 700,00 members.
b. Significance
One of the first unions to accept all workers but never grew to be very large.

the Haymarket riot

a. Identification
Evening of may 4, 1886 3000 people gathered at Chicago's haymarket square to protest police brutality. Police arrived, someone threw a bomb, police fired at crowd. Seven police men and several stirkers died.
b. Significance
After the violence people began turning against unions.
the American Federation of Labor

a. Identification
Founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. Focused on negotiating between representatives of business and labor to reach written agreements on hours, wages and working conditions. Unlike the Knights of Labor the AFL used strikes as a major tactic.
b. Significance
Between 1890 and 1915 the average weekly wages in unionized industry rose from $17.50 to 24 and average work-week fell from 54.5 hours to a bit und 49 hours. AFL was a sucessful union

Samuel Gompers

a. Identification
led the cigar maker's international union to join with other craft unions in 1886. President of AFL
b. Significance
helped to create the American federation of Labor and was president.

the Homestead strike
Carnegie steel workers
a. Identification
Carnegie steel workers call strike on june 29 1892 after anounced pay cuts. Company hired strikebreakers and detectives. Battle killed 3 detectives and nine strikers. National guard arrived on july 12. Strike continued until November, strikers finally gave in.
b. Significance
IT took 45 years for steel workers to mobilize like that again.

the Pullman strike

a. Identification
Spring of 1894 stirke called when pullman company refused ot restore wages. ARU boycotted pullman trains. Pullman hired strikebreakers, stirke turned violent. Federal troops called, debs jailed, strikers blacklisted.
b. Significance
Strikers blacklisted, debbs jailed

Eugene V. Debs

a. Identification
Founder of American Railway Union, organized pullman strike, spokesperson for socialist party of America. In 1912 won 900000 votes.
b. Significance
Founder of American Railway Union, organized pullman strike, spokesperson for socialist party of America. In 1912 won 900000 votes.

the Industrial Workers of the World

a. Identification
founded in 1905 by a group of radical unionists and socialists. Leader was Big Bill Haywood. welcomed african americans, membership never topped 100000
b. Significance
One major strike victory in 1912, gave dignity to workers.