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Labor Unions and Strikes
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Knights of Labor
Organized in Philadelphia by garment workers, this labor union strived for equal pay. The labor union of 1869 went by the name, Noble Order of the Knights of Labor. The wanted equal pay for equal work, abortion of child labor, and an eight hour work day. -
AFL
The American Federation of Labor was organized in 1886. They focused on better working conditions and better pay. The AFL wanted Union Labels on produced items and was craft oriented. -
Haymarket Square Riot
In the year of 1886, workers in Chicago march for the want of an 8hr work day. Police attempt to break up the protest but 8 die before it was controlled. The Public saw unions and protesters as a problem and wanted the problem fixed. -
"How the Other Half Lives"
These passages explain the surprising findings inside of tenement houses. The book studies the tenements of New York and shows the horrible conditions. Written by Jacob Riis, they expose how the other half lives. -
Homestead Strike
Being one of the most serious diputes in U.S. Labor history, this protest quickly gained in battles. Ocuring on June 30, 1892, this riot was an industrial lockout strike between strikers and public security officers. It was a defeat for the union but a major setback for the attempts made to unionize steelworkers. -
Pullman Strike
Workers for a railroad company were protesting the high rents of housing for nearby rental homes. Since it ocurred during the great depression many could not afford the cost of the renta homes and proteseted. Twenty seven states joined in and any transportation from Chicago to the West Coast was shut down. The strike collapsed when union leaders were arrested and imprisoned. -
Labor Day
Labor Day became a national holiday in the year 1894. Labor Day was followed by the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of U.S. military during Pullman Strike. It is now a national holiday that allows many bussinesses and schools to shut down for the day. -
Coal Strike
The United Mine Workers of America organized a stike in protest of low wages. The strike threatened to shut down the major winter supplies of coal so the federal government stepped in to stop the strike. President Theodore Roosevelt became involved and set up a commision that shut down the strike. -
"The Jungle"
"The Jungle" is a book written by Upton Sinclair. The book describes the conditions of meat packing plants and what is going on inside of them. The book was used as a form of exposing labor abuses in the meat packing industries. -
"The Bitter Cry of Children"
John Spargo published "The Bitter Cry of Children" in 1906. The book was used to expose the jobs of underaged children working in the coal mines. The children's hardships are told throughout the passages, one can easily find a million things wrong with what is happening down in the coal mines. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 provided federal inspection of meat products. This law forbade the production, sale, or transportation of poisonous of unsanitary foods. The law also did not allow any factory or plant to be in bussiness if the food has not been inspected. -
Triangle Shirt Factory Fire
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirt Factory went up in flames. It was the deadliest industrial disaster in NYC history. 146 garment workers died in the building, others jumped out of the 10 story building. Workers could not get to the stairwells because doors were locked. -
Congress of Industrial Organization
The Congress of Industrial Organization was part of the AFL until 1935 when it broke off. The CIO broke away from the AFL becaus it preffered to advocate along industrial lines, unlike the AFL. In 1955 it reintergrted into the AFL. -
National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 gave the power to punish unfair labor practices. This act also gave rights to Pro Labor and labor's right to organize legally recognized. The law affected Labor Unions because they no longer did not have to suffer unfair labor practices. -
The GM Sit-Down Strike
General Motors company employees shut down the plant operations by sitting down at work and refusing to do the job. The strike spread and grew as time went on, strike breakers couldn't take the place of the workers because of the employees' tactics. The strike was brought to the attention of the general public and soon after President Roosvelt helped to shut down the strike. -
Fair Labor Stndards Act
The Federal Regulation of Child Labor Achieved in Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938. This new law gave, for the first time, minimum ages of employment. It also regulated the hours of work for children. -
Steel Strike
President Truman helped to stop the strike before it ocurred nationalizing company hours. The steel companies sued to regain the control of their company. Steel workers won a wage increase. -
Major League Baseball Strike
Having been the first baseball strike, 86 games were missed and were not replayed. Baseball players wanted more money for the sport, and they got it, $500,000 was given as an increase in pension funds. It occurred from April 1, to April 13, 1972. -
NYC Transit Strike
The NYC Transit Strike was formed by Transport Workers Union Local in the year 2005. Transit Authority observed the strike, stopping all traffic of subways and busses. Service of transportation was restored overnight and the strike quickly diminished.
