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Great Southwest Railroad Strike
Since the American Railroad was expanding so rapidly the railroad workers were forced to work in very unsafe conditions. The strike suffered from a lack of commitment from other railroad unions, the successful hiring of nonunion workers by Gould and from violence and scare tactics. This strike was disbanded, this is important because is shows the power of the companies over the unions in the early years of unionization. -
Homestead Strike
On July 6, the workers who were strking opened fire on a barge loaded with 300 Pinkerton agents who were being brought in as strikebreakers. Three strike breakers and seven strikers were killed. This shows the early development of unions before workers had proper rights. -
The Pullman Strike
Factory workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company walked out in protest due to inefficent wages and forced 12 hour shifts. The workers were joined by members of the American Railway Union who refused to work on, or run any trains including Pullman-owned cars. This affected the unions because they were starting to gain ground and grow against companies. -
LA Times Bombing
In 1910 a purpos dynamiting of the LA Times building happened killing 21 people and injuring 100+. The building was the homeof the Iron workers union. This affected the union due to the trama of the union itslef being bombed. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
A fire in lower Manhattan kills 146 women workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. This affected unions because it outlined the harsh conditions the workers had to deal with. This also affected them because they lost alot of workers. -
Ludlow Massacre
Colorado National Guard attack 1,200 striking coal miners and their families at Ludlow, Colorado. This killed two doezen coal miners plus some of them being their wives and children. This affected unions due to the violence making others not want to join. -
Norris Laguardia Act
Norris Laguarda Act also known as the anti-injunction bill made Yellow- dog contracts illegal. This allowed workers to be able to unionize as they wished without being terminated from their jobs. This made unions accecible for workers. -
The Great Depression
During the great depression the amount of union workers shrank dramatically. By the time the depression was in full swing unions lost 2 million workers. This affected the unions because they lost alot of income due to less workers. -
Wagner Act
The Wagner Act allowed workers the ability to go on strike protected by the government. This allowed the workers to stand up for themselves when needed. Thye could fight back without the fear of termination. -
WWII
WWII due to the rationing of supplies and the use of many US citizens factories and unions made sacrifices. Many unions openly supported Roosevelt administration. Unions also took no strike pledges to help support the need for products coming out of factories. -
WhistleBlower Protection Laws
Protects employees who tell on their employer. So if the employer is doing someting in their buisness that is illegal the employee is protected if they tell. This is helpful to unions because not only can they come together but they can be protected while attemping to make their place of work better.
