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Industrial Revolution
The Industrial revolution created many jobs for unskilled workers and companies got rich from cheap labor. The horrible factory conditions and low wages helped create the modern Labor Movement. Many workers began unions to bargain for better conditions. -
Homestead Strike
The Homestead strike was a battle between striking steelworkers and private security guards hired by Carnegie Steel Company. When the C.S.C began hiring less skilled workers, the unionized workers went on strike. They eventually lost and the end result was a devastating blow for the union and attempts to unionize steel workers. -
Ludlow Massacre
The Ludlow Massacre was an attack on coal miners who were on strike by the Colorado National Guard and the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company camp guards. Between 19-26 people died, including 2 women and 11 children. -
Battle of Blair Mountain
The battle of Blair Mountain was an armed dispute between coal miners and strike-breakers and police. The dispute was very violent and the army was called in. The Union eventually lost and many union workers were convicted of murder, attempted murder, and treason against the state of West Virginia. -
Great Depression
At the begining of the Great Depression the future of Unions looked bleak. Membership was down millions of workers. But under the New Deal of F.D.R. unions became more powerful due to the pro-union laws passed. -
Wagner Act
The Wagner Act established the National Labor Reltions Board. It gave workers the legal right to organize, or join, labor unions. It also protected workers rights to strike and bargain with employers. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act was put in place to protect workers. It established the first national minimum wage and the 40 hour work week. It also protected minors from oppressive child labor. -
World War 2
During World War 2 Unions lost power. The Labor Unions agreed not to strike during the war so the US could win. Unions also declined in popularity because there were signs of corruption and organized crime. -
Landrum-Griffin Act
The Landrum-Griffin Act was passed to regulate the internal affairs of labor unions. At that time the Labor Movement was under widespread scrutiny for reports of corruption and racketeering. The purpose of the Landrum-Griffin Act was to put unions on a more honest basis. -
Steel Strike of 1959
The steel strike of 1959 started when steel workers noticed that profits from steel were sky-rocketing but wages stayed the same. 500,000 steelworkers decided to go on strike. The end result was that wages increased for steelworkers all over America. -
1960's Counter culture
During the 1960's with the vietnam war and social revolution, tensions were rising. Union leaders were corrupt and cooperating with business leaders. Workers were frustrated and rebeled. "wildcat strikes", strikes organized by the workers not the union leaders, rose in popularity. The number of wildcat strikes doubled in the 1960's and in 1969 there were 2000. I think overall the power of unions were weakened by corruption.
