-
Railway Strike of 1877
It was a series of strikes against the Ohio and Baltimore railways. It was the first time Federal Troops were called out during a strike. It showed the first signs of dispute amongst the labor force and business owners. -
LA TImes Bombing
Two men connected to the Iron Workers Union confess to planting a bomb at the anti-union LA Times. The bomb kills 20 people and injures more than 100 people. This further divides union and anti-union supporters. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
146 women are killed in a fire in a lower Manhattan factory. This fire provokes public sympathy for poor working conditions. This rallies unions across America to fight for better working conditions. -
First State Minimum Wage
Massachusetts adopts the first state minimum wage. Other states would soon follow. These actions set a floor under workers and less the need for joining a union fighting for higher pay. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
This Act set a minimum wage, overtime pay, and outlawed child labor. It is enforced by the US Department of Labor. It weakened the need for a union because they were now granted these rights. -
Taft-Hartley Act
The federal government was able to call off strikes and lockouts if the national interest was in danger. It also banned strikes and boycotts that did not directly involve labor disputes. It has led to the decline to the union workforce over time. -
National Labor Relations Act
This Act guarantees workers the right to organize and bargain with their employers. it also helped reverse the attitudes of the government who were against unions. In result, the number of unionized laborers rose from 3.5 million to 15 million. -
Postal Strike
More than 200,000 postal workers walk off the job. It was the first strike by federal employees. President Nixon calls on the Army and National Guard to keep the mail moving, the two-week strike proves largely successful and ultimately leads to a modernization of the postal service. -
Major League Baseball Strike
MLB players strike against owners. Owners wanted compensation for hiring of free agents, player revolt and lose 40% of the season. The dispute is resolved before the cancellation of World Series. -
Great Anthracite Coal Strike
Nearly 150,000 coal miners went on strike in eastern Pennsylvania. Roosevelt feared that this strike would cause a heat shortage during the winter. J.P. Morgan feared the strike would cause a decrease in business, so he gave into the union's request and granted them a 10% raise. This led the union to feel even more powerful.
