Labor Union Timeline~ Mary, Alana, Jo

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    Labor Union Strikes

  • Journeyman Strike

    Journeyman printers in New York City strike for "three shillings and six pence per day with diet."
  • Child Labor

    The first textile mill was built in Rhode Island and was entirely staffed by children
  • Building Trades Strike

    First strike in building trades by Philadelphia carpenters for a 10-hour day.
  • Philadelphia Pilots Strike

    The Philadelphia port pilots reused to conduct ships through the Delaware River until their wages are raised. The pilots striked for 12 days and refused to assist the traffic coming up and down the busy river.
  • Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers

    The Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers was a group of shoemakers who organized a series of series of strikes for better wages, and redefined the shoe industry as a closed union shop, to which only members of the union could be employed.
  • The Textile Worker Turnout

    This was the first organized factory strike and it was led by women who were subject to pay cuts.
  • Boston Carpenters Strike

    Journeymen carpenters went on strike in order to recieve a 10 hour workday, but were quickly surpressed by master carpenters,
  • Dover Mill Girls

    The Cocheco Manufacturing Company employed many unmarried or widowed girls as well as men. In December the company changed owners and the rules became more restricting. The girls' wages were lowered despite already being significantly less than the mens'. On December 30, 1828, 800 mill girls walked out. The owners quickly employed replacements and the girls went back to work for reduced wages.
  • Philadelphia General Strike

    In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 20,000 workers struck for 10-hour work days and increased wages
  • Knights of Labor Founded

    Uriah Stephens formed the Knights of Labor in Philidelphia. It staretd as a secret society, but became an important organization later.
  • Railway Strike of 1877

    The railway strike was a strike against the Baltimore and Ohio railway. This strike ignited a series of protests along the notheast.For the first time, Federal troops were called out to control the violence and disturbances. The strike was ended, but geave important insight to the strained relationship between managers and workers.
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    Great Southwest Railroad Strike

    As the American Railroad expanded quickly, the Knights of Labor struck against the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific Railroads. Around 200,000 workers across the states Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas. They refused to work due to poor working condiditons and along with unfair hours and pay.
  • Haymarket Riot

    In Haymarket square in Chicago, workers gathered to protest the long workday, in support of the 8 hour day. It erupted into chaos when an anonymous person threw a bomb at the police, to which the police began firing at the crowd. The incident in the square changed the views on the Labor Movement, and caused ditress within the movement.
  • AFL Founded

    AFL (American Federation of Labor) was founded by Samuel Gompers, in wake of the Haymark riot. The AFL was a collection of unions that platyed an important role in the labor movent then, and even today.
  • Sherman Anti-Trust Act

    Congress passes the Anti-Trust Act, which is used by employers to oppose any things that canpotentially harmful to buisness competition, such as cartels or monopolies. Buisnesses could effectively use it agianst labor unions.
  • Homestead Strike

    A lockout by the Homestead Steel Workers becomes deadly as company hired Pinkerton dectectives arrive to the lockout by boat, and are meet with violence from the workers. The "strike" left 7 Pinkertons dead along with 11 union members. The court decides to help crush the union, safegaurding the steel industry from organized labor for decades.
  • The Pullman Strike

    Workers for the Pullman Palace Car Company walked out in protest to the 12 hour days and cut wages due to the depressed economy. Members of the American Railway Union joined and nearly 250,000 workers were on strike. This ended in shutting down train traffic to west Chicago.
  • The Great Anthracite Coal Strike

    Men from the United Mine Workers of America in eastern Pennsylvania began to strike, asking for higher wages, shorter work days, and recognition of their union.
  • IWW Founded

    Formed by Western miners and other activists, the Wobblies (Industrial Workers of the World) was the most radical movement of all organized labor unions. They only had limited success , but they inspired generations of movements.
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    Steel Strike of 1919

    Because of poor working conditions, long hours, low wages, and corporate harassment regarding union involvement, workers organized a strike against the United States Steel Corporation. The 350,000 strikers shut down nearly half of the steel industry.
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    Railroad Shop Workers Strike of 1922

    400,000 rail shop laborers went on strike when the railroad labor board announced that wages would be cut by seven cents.
  • Textile Workers Strike

    Largest strike in United States labor history. Textile workers protested long hours, low wages, and lack of representation in the National Recovery Administration. Lasted 20 days, but ultimately failed.
  • 1946 Bituminous Coal Strike

    When the national economy was recovering from the second world war, the United Mine Workers of America had 400,000 workers on strike for safer working conditions, health benefits, and pay. Truman ended the strike and most of the demands were met despite the 3.5 million dollar fine to the UMWA.
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    United Mine Workers of America

    During the span of April to December, the United Mine Workers of America rallied over 400,000 miners to walk off the job. They demanded safer conditions, health benefits, and higher wages. The strike affected 26 states and eventually their demands were met by President Truman.
  • Steel Strike of 1959

    The United Steel Workers of America demended higher wages when steel industry profits skyrocketed. The conflict led to 500,000 strikers and the union received higher wages
  • 1970 U.S. Postal Strike

    Postal workers in New York city went on strike to get higher wages, better working conditions and management. With the mail delivery standstill, in two weeks, the workers demands were met.
  • UPS workers strike

    This was the largest strike of the 1990's. UPS workers wanted full-time jobs and higher wages. The worker had a lot of public support and their demands were met. However, UPS lost over six million dollars in the process.
  • UPS Workers Strike

    185,000 delivery workers rallied in the biggest strike of the decade. They demanded part-time jobs turned into full-time jobs. higher wages, and safeguarding of their multiemployer pension plan.