Rose Schneiderman
A young factory worker who protested for better working conditions in the factories
Uprising of 20,000
An event where thousands of women walked off their jobs and demanded higher wages and better working hours
What was the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?
In 1911, the factory caught fire and due to bad working conditions, many women could not escape. The fire killed 146 people
Conditions of the working class
Industrial workers had an exhausting schedule. Usually worked 6 days a week for 10 hours. The works was also repetitive and boring. Workers often preformed their tasks in hazardous environments
Division of labor
Production was divided into separate tasks, with one task assigned to each worker
Child labor
Children worked as well as their parents. Their wages were smaller than adults, so companies employed them, and they were expected to do the same amount of work as their parents. Critics concerned about child labor. Some states enacted laws that set a min
What were the working conditions of child workers?
Child workers experienced the most dangerous working conditions. Because they were small, they could squeeze inside running machinery to make repairs
Unsanitary living conditions
Most workers, especially immigrants, lived in slums-heavily populated parts of a city marked with filth and squalor
Tenements
Workers and immigrants who lived in run-down apartments, usually housing four families. Disease flourished, fire was danger, very unsanitary
Labor movement
Workers had no rights, poor living conditions, pay would drop when economy slumped. Workers unite for better conditions.
Labor unions
A groups of workers organized to protect the interests of its member. Its power came from the threat of a strike. During times of depression, labor unions lost strength
Three primary goals of labor unions
Higher wages, shorter hours, better working conditions
Strike
Where workers refuse to go to work. Would shut down place of work. Used when owners would not discuss labor issues
National Labor federation
A group of unions
Yellow dog contracts
A written pledge that employers used to pressure workers not to join a union
Black list
If a worker refused to sign the contract. List of names that was exchanged amongst employer of workers not to hire
Three national labor organizations
Knights of labor, American federation of labor, Industrial workers of the world
Knights of labor
One of the first unions. Accepted women and African Americans. Was led by Terence Powderly. Declined after 1886
American Federation of labor
Mostly skilled labor, focused on higher wages and shorter work days. led by Samuel Gompers
Industrial workers of the world
Adopted philosophies of carl marks
Socialism
Political theory that advocates ownership of the means of production by the people, rather than land owners, goals are to eliminate private property, seen as path to a better life for workers
Collective bargaining
Negotiation between employers and employee representatives concerning wages, working environment, and other issues of employment, strikes can also be called
Railroad strike of 1877
Railroad workers in west virginia went on strike because railroad owners slashed wages during the depression. Largest labor uprise in U.S. history. Massive uprising, railroad system was shut down. Riots broke out in various cities supporting the workers.
Haymarket affair
Chicago 1886, started when strikers fought with scabs, a group of anarchists called for a protest in haymarket square. 1000 people showed up. Chicago police stormed the gathering, a bomb exploded, police fired into the crowd
Anarchist
Someone who does not believe in government
Homestead strike
1892, pennsylvania. involved iron and steel workers at the carnegie steel plant. Carnegie away, Frick brought in pinkerton agents, which caused a gunfight, governor called in militia. then shut out union for 40 years
Pullman strike
1894, chicago, pullman cut wages, but not rent or other charges in the company town. the workers went on strike.
Company town
A town that is built for company, employees rent company owned housing and shopped at company stores often at inflated prices, this caused employees to have large debts with the company
American railway union
Supported the pullman strike. its members shut down railway traffic in the midwest by refusing to handle trains with pullman cars. Some included mail cars, and interfering with mail was a federal offense. So president cleveland sent federal troops to brea
Mixed success for unions
Union struggles in late 1800s brought mixed results for organized labor. Union usually had more setbacks than gains, and failed to get government support. Through collective bargaining, they made some advances, mostly on issues of hours and wages
Government favors owners over workers
Government favors business owners. unions needed government support. Government would issue injunctions to prevent union activity.
Injunction
A court order that prevents a specific action
American attitude toward unions
Unions needed americans to support to survive. violence caused many americans to view unions as dangerous. Violence and radicalism scared many potential members
Result of unions from 1890 to 1915
Unions remained small, but the average worker had better pay and worked less hours. Conditions for non union workers improved, but not as much. Unions helped workers rights, pay, and hours. Unions gave power to the working class when it had none before