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Lowell Mill Women Create First Union of Working Women
The Lowell, Mass., textile mills where they worked were widely admired. But the women worked an average of around 13 hours a day. Many women that worked there were children - some as young as 10 years old. The rooms were very small and confided, filled with dust and lint and were very uncomfortable. -
Knights of Labor Founded
Uriah Stephens formed the Knights of Labor in Philadelphia. It was supposed to be a secret society that was able to round up workers around the country. They were known for their union organizing and really started off unions. -
Great Southwest Railroad Strike
A total of 200,000 strikers refused to work on the railroads due to unsafe work conditions and unfair wages/work hours. Eventually, the strike ended because none of the strikers truly committed to striking and got scared of their employers' threats. -
Homestead Strike
The workers at the steel mills in Homestead were members of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. They were known for their bargaining regarding their wages and work rules. The tension between management and the employees lead to a bloody battle that was lead by the employers. -
The Pullman Strike
Due to long 12-hour work days and major pay cuts. 250,000 factory workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company all walked out during the work day to protest the unfair conditions. They were joined by members of the American Railway Union who refused to work on or run any trains, especially Pullman-owned cars. The strike ended when President Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago in1894. -
Battle of Cripple Creek
Workers started pouring in from around the country desperate for jobs, and Cripple Creek's labor increased drastically. That's when the mine owners demanded that the working day would increase from 8 hours to 9 or 10 with no pay increase, and if the employees didn't like that, the owners said they could keep the 8 hour day, but for a reduction of 50 cents in their pay. After shootings and strikes, they came to a conclusion of a $3 raise and an 8 hour work day. -
Industrial Workers of the World founded
Western miners formed the IWW in Chicago in 1905. It became one of the most radical union organizations. They weren't very successful in their many plans, but they inspired generations of labor activists. -
Steel Strike of 1919
United States Steel Corporation workers represented by the American Federation of Labor started a strike due to poor working conditions, long hours, low wages and corporate harassment. The number of strikers quickly grew to around 350,000 which shut down nearly half of the steel industry. Eventually the strike failed due to company owners caused public concern over communism and immigration as a distraction. -
The Wagner Act
The main purpose of this law was to declare the legal right of all workers. This allows them to join unions freely or bargain with their employers. It also set up a three-member National Labor Relations Board that resolved labor disputes. -
National Labor Relations Act
Before this, employers were not required to recognize unions. Since this law came into play, all employers are required to recognize unions because they are a basic right to employees. By doing this, congress hoped to reduce strikes and anything else that would slow down or stop production. -
The Taft–Hartley Act
The Taft-Hartley Act passed in 1947 and its main objective was to make major changes to the Wagner Act. The biggest thing that this law did was put restrictions on labor unions and the power that they hold. This affected the union because it made the government realize that unions held too much power.
