The rise of unions
During the Gilded Age, the government followed a laissez-faire policy of not regulating business. This lack of restriction led to the use of unfair business practices to control industry in the pursuit of eliminating competition to create monopolies. Furthermore, society in general approved of these unfair practices because the pseudo-science philosophy of Social Darwinism justified monopolistic actions; it said that the wealthy deserved what they earned because they worked hard for it and they were the “fitter” ones in society.
Eventually, however, more and more people grew dissatisfied with their poor living and working conditions and started to demand change. They were also upset with the growing gap between the rich and the poor. This led to the creation of labor unions. The goal of labor unions is to engage in collective bargaining – a series of negotiations between labor (the workers) and the employer for better working conditions, pay, and benefits. Two major unions emerged during the Gilded Age: the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Unfortunately, for the worker and labor unions, at this time, both the American public and the government did not support their efforts. Unions at this time were viewed as disruptive to the economy. The government sided with big business and often used the military and court injunctions to put an end to union strikes.
Eventually, however, more and more people grew dissatisfied with their poor living and working conditions and started to demand change. They were also upset with the growing gap between the rich and the poor. This led to the creation of labor unions. The goal of labor unions is to engage in collective bargaining – a series of negotiations between labor (the workers) and the employer for better working conditions, pay, and benefits. Two major unions emerged during the Gilded Age: the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Unfortunately, for the worker and labor unions, at this time, both the American public and the government did not support their efforts. Unions at this time were viewed as disruptive to the economy. The government sided with big business and often used the military and court injunctions to put an end to union strikes.
the knights of labor (1869)
Founded by Uriah Stephens; (1880s) by Terence Powderly, and by Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones)
Who could be a member?
What were their goals?
What were their methods?
Who could be a member?
- A union for both SKILLED AND UNSKILLED Labor
- admitted ALL workers regardless of race, creed, color, gender, or national origin
- membership increased under Powderly – female and immigrants
What were their goals?
- 8 hour workday vs. the typical 12-16 hours
- No child labor
- Equal pay for men and women
What were their methods?
- Preferred boycotts to strikes, but used strikes too
- A series of unsuccessful strikes, failure of cooperatives, and the Haymarket Riot in 1886 turned public opinion against them; they lost membership to the AFL
The american Federation of labor (1886-1924)
Founded by Samuel Gompers (1886-1924)
Who could be a member?
What were their goals?
Successes:
Who could be a member?
- organized along craft (trade) lines and accepted only SKILLED workers (ex: mineworkers, steelworkers)
What were their goals?
- Better wages
- 8 hour workday
- No child labor
- Equal pay for men and women
Successes:
- Greatest success was organizing skilled workers
- Had 1 million members by 1901
the early struggles of "labor" and the unions
Labor unions had struggles achieving their goals during the Gilded Age for a variety of reasons. Firstly, unions faced serious difficulties in organizing because of the mobility and diversity of the American labor force. Workers who did not "stay hitched," but moved from job to job were difficult to organize. The constant influx of large numbers of immigrants—averaging more than 300,000 a year between 1870 and 1900—also presented a problem. Differences in language, religion, and customs among the immigrants made it hard to unite them into an effective union.
Another problem was that different labor leaders had different goals. Some leaders envisioned uniting all workers into one large union in order to promote widespread reforms. Others believed that unions should be organized by particular crafts or industries and work only for short-term benefits in their particular field.
Unions also faced strong opposition from employers and big business. Workers were often required to take oaths swearing they would not join a union (yellow-dog contract). If found to have been involved in union activity, a worker would be fired and often could not get another job because of blacklists, or records of "troublemakers" kept by employers. Once blacklisted, a laborer could get a job only by changing residence, trade, or even name. Another way employers retaliated against union organizing was the lockout—whereby the factory was shut down—or by firing union members and hiring scabs, or replacement workers. In any lockout or strike, the odds favored employers. Few unions had enough money to support their members through the long period of unemployment caused by a strike.
Labor unions also had to fight public opinion. Many Americans viewed fixing wages and hours by collective bargaining—negotiation between an employer and a labor union—as violating the right of an individual to deal personally with the employer. Only infrequently did public opinion condemn employers when labor disputes resulted in violence. This happened during the Homestead Steel Mill lockout in 1892 when the Carnegie Steel Company hired a private army of 300 Pinkerton detectives armed with repeating rifles. Generally, however, labor unions were held responsible when disorder occurred.
Another problem for unions was that law enforcement agencies and the government usually sided with the employers. Employers suffered no penalties for lockouts and blacklists. Union strikes and boycotts, on the other hand, were judged to be "conspiracies in limitation of trade" for which labor leaders might be jailed or fined. Contracts between employers and unions were not usually enforceable by law. When violence occurred, or was even threatened, the police—and sometimes armed troops—were sent to the aid of employers. The federal government was known to use the court system to issue injunctions to end strikes, all in the name of the country being able to engage in commerce and trade. Such was the decision of the Supreme Court in In Re Debs.
Another problem was that different labor leaders had different goals. Some leaders envisioned uniting all workers into one large union in order to promote widespread reforms. Others believed that unions should be organized by particular crafts or industries and work only for short-term benefits in their particular field.
Unions also faced strong opposition from employers and big business. Workers were often required to take oaths swearing they would not join a union (yellow-dog contract). If found to have been involved in union activity, a worker would be fired and often could not get another job because of blacklists, or records of "troublemakers" kept by employers. Once blacklisted, a laborer could get a job only by changing residence, trade, or even name. Another way employers retaliated against union organizing was the lockout—whereby the factory was shut down—or by firing union members and hiring scabs, or replacement workers. In any lockout or strike, the odds favored employers. Few unions had enough money to support their members through the long period of unemployment caused by a strike.
Labor unions also had to fight public opinion. Many Americans viewed fixing wages and hours by collective bargaining—negotiation between an employer and a labor union—as violating the right of an individual to deal personally with the employer. Only infrequently did public opinion condemn employers when labor disputes resulted in violence. This happened during the Homestead Steel Mill lockout in 1892 when the Carnegie Steel Company hired a private army of 300 Pinkerton detectives armed with repeating rifles. Generally, however, labor unions were held responsible when disorder occurred.
Another problem for unions was that law enforcement agencies and the government usually sided with the employers. Employers suffered no penalties for lockouts and blacklists. Union strikes and boycotts, on the other hand, were judged to be "conspiracies in limitation of trade" for which labor leaders might be jailed or fined. Contracts between employers and unions were not usually enforceable by law. When violence occurred, or was even threatened, the police—and sometimes armed troops—were sent to the aid of employers. The federal government was known to use the court system to issue injunctions to end strikes, all in the name of the country being able to engage in commerce and trade. Such was the decision of the Supreme Court in In Re Debs.