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Labor Unions
From the NLU to today
Why unionize?
American Civil War spawned a boom in
US industry
Factory owners had almost total control
over hours and wages
Huge immigrant influx provided surplus of
cheap labor
During the 1860’s, average work week
was 60 hours at $.10 an hour (usually 7
days a week)
Why unionize
Many factory workers
lived in company
owned housing.
Shopped at company
owned stores
Owners garnished
wages to pay debts
No such thing as
vacation, sick leave,
regard for worker
safety or job security
Birth of unions
National Labor Union: formed in 1866 by
William Sylvis
Focused on joining small, existing unions
together
Encouraged unions to admit all workers,
regardless of sex or race (unsuccessfully)
Succeeded in gaining 8 hour work day for
government employees
Dissolved as result of Recession of 1872
Knights of Labor
Founded in 1868, a first attempt at organizing
individual workers into unions
All inclusive; skilled and unskilled workers,
regardless of race or sex (except Chinese)
Argued for 8 hour work day for all, ending child
labor, equal pay for equal work (radical) and
replacing capitalism (radical)
Used strikes as a last resort
Strengthened position by successful strikes
against Wabash Railroad Cos.
Knights of Labor
Downfall caused by three issues
Radical views lost it public support
Rift between skilled and unskilled members (lost
many skilled members to AFL)
Haymarket Riot (Chicago) of 1886
By 1900, KoL was dead
American Federation of Labor
Formed in 1886 by
Samuel Gompers
Used strikes as a major
tactic, introduced
collective bargaining
Helped win higher wages
and shorter work weeks
during the 1890s-1910’s
Represented primarily
skilled workers (nonfactory laborers)
AFL and CIO
AFL remained dominant union
organization until 1930’s.
Stayed mostly apolitical until WWI
(Democratic)
Dissent within AFL led to split in 1937
John L. Lewis led UMW and other leftleaning unions to for Congress of
Industrial Organizations.
AFL and CIO reunited in 1955 as AFL-CIO
Public pressure
Held unions in check during the 1880’s due to
Haymarket, Homestead, and B&O Railroad incidents
Opinions change in early 1900’s
The Jungle (1906) by Upton Sinclair
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911
Government involvement
Most early involvement favored
businesses
Government used injunction to force
workers off the picket line (Pullman Strike
of 1894)
New Deal era saw “new deal” for labor
New Deal Era
Norris-La Guardia Act (1932): allows workers
right to join unions, prevents employers from
forbidding union membership, restricts power to
issue injunctions
Wagner Act (1935): requires owners to bargain
in good faith with unions, guarantees workers
right to unionize
Fair Labor Standards Act (1938): established
minimum wage, 40 hour work week, and
restricted child labor (why you are in school,
instead of working full time!)
Beyond New Deal
Union’s power has slowly eroded since the
1950’s (35% of private sector workers were in
unions)
Loss of many manufacturing jobs has hurt
unions (ie, steel in 1980’s, tech and auto in
1990’s-2000)
Government has backed away from supporting
unions on economic grounds (ie Gov. Walker –
WI, Gov. Kasich – OH)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/j
un/07/scott-walkers-win-permanent-defeat-uslabor-unions