Labor Unions

1
Labor Unions
2
History of Labor Movement

• Men, Women and Children worked 12 or more hours a
  day.
• Working conditions were dangerous, and workers
  were paid only enough to buy the bare
  necessities.
• If workers complained they were fired.

3
Why did employers treat workers like this?

• They wanted to keep expenses down and increase
  their profits.
• There were more workers than there were jobs.
• What does this mean for the workers then?
• Low wages. Employers could always find someone
  to work for a lower wage.

4
What did workers do to improve their situation?

• They joined together to improve their conditions.
• They formed labor unions.

5
What is a labor union?

• A labor union is an organization of workers who
  join together for the purpose of obtaining higher
  pay and better working conditions.

6
Problems with organizing

• the diversity of the American workforce
• the mobility of the American workforce
• the constant influx of immigrants
• language, religion, and customs
• strong opposition from employers
• lockouts from employers

7
How was the formation of these unions perceived?

• If employers would find out that one of their
  workers participated in union activity they would
  fire them or blacklist them.
• Blacklist- a record of troublemakers made by
  employers
• Employers would also use lockouts to stop unions.
• Lockout- employers would lockout the workers and
  hire scabs (non-union workers)

8
Disaster for unions

• Strikes would sometimes result in violence.
• Railway strike of 1877
• Homestead lockout in 1892 (Carnegie Steel Company
  hired a private army of 300 armed men with
  repeating rifles)
• Police and armed troops would be sent out during
  times that violence broke out.
• Why did they side with the employers instead of
  the employees?

9
What did the unions get out of all this?

• States passed laws about working conditions, and
  minimum standards of health and safety.
• A minimum wage was passed.
• Regulations about children working.
• A 40 hour work week.