-
Great Southwest Railroad Strike
Dispute Reason: workers refused to work, citing unsafe conditions, and unfair hours and pay.
Strike Description: 200,000 workers in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Texas went on strike. The Knights of Labor went on strike at the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads, owned by robber baron Jay Gould.
Resolution:the strike failed and the Knights of Labor disbanded soon afterwards. -
The Pullman Strike
Dispute reason: Chicago and Illinois were facing 12-hour work days and wage cuts resulting from the depressed economy.
Strike Description: The Pullman Strike was a strike of 250,000 factory workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company, The workers joined the American Railway Union (ARU), who refused to work on or run any trains.
Resolution: This caused a shut down in train traffic to the west of Chicago.The strike ended when President Grover Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago on July 6, 1894. -
Steel Strike of 1919
Dispute reason: strike against poor working conditions, long hours, low wages and corporate harassment.
Strike Description: Happened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania following World War I, United States Steel Corporation workers represented by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) organized a strike of 200,000 people.
Resolution:This resulted in the strikes failure and ensured an absence of union organization in the steel industry for the next 15 years. -
1970 U.S. Postal Strike
Dispute Reason: U.S. postal workers were not allowed to engage in collective bargaining; and there were issues with working conditions, benefits and management.
Strike Description: Began in NYC and spread nationwide. With no deliveries, Nixon ordered the National Guard to resolve the issue, but their tactics were futile.
Resolution: The strike was successful and led to negotiations. The union´s demands for higher wages and improved conditions were met, and were granted the right to negotiate. -
UPS Workers Strike
Dispute Reason: They were looking for the creation of full-time jobs, increased wages and the retention of their multi-employer pension plan.
Strike Description: Was the largest strike of the 1990´s and was lead by 185,000 UPS Teamsters. The strike caused the UPS to lose more than $600 million in business.
Resolution: These workers gained major support from the public and eventually had all of their demands met.