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Review the History of the union movement in America

Presented to
Perry Barton
Team Project& MGMT 2215

By
Danyell Young

February 9th 2015

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The labor movement in America was established to protect workers in the industrial
sector. Unions united to fight for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions.
The labor movement held the interest of the workers to stop child labor, give health benefits and
help with compensations with injuries on the job. American workers had to unite to achieve the
goals and make improvements in the workplace which did not happen easily. Labor unions were
originally unionized with the first record strike in 1768, when New York journey tailors protested
a wage reduction. The Journeymen Cordwainers, Philadelphia shoemakers unionized to form the
union organization in 1794. The American workers began sustained trade union organization
among workers in the United States. Americans workers wanted more power in the workplace
which power struggles aroused among unions and management. Businesses across America were
unionizing to have human rights in the representation of work hours, pay and safer working
conditions. Job protection was the key component of the union. Businesses believed they could
run their company as they wanted without interference from employees input and they should
have all the power.
First, early labor movements were organized to harbor a conception of the just society
which fostered social equality to divide the two classes, the rich and the poor. The Ricardian
labor theory viewpoint was republican ideas of the American Revolution which believed in
honest labor, independence and virtuous citizenship. The divided labor union was divided on
direction and tactics some unions wanted social change others wanted better wages and working
conditions. Some unions wanted to organize industrial organizations others wanted smaller units
of skilled workers into craft organizations. Union expanded to nationwide prominence after the
Civil War as workers became dissatisfied with low wages and no job security workers joined
together to have a collective voice. Initially, the government was against unions being formed
siding with the businessmen, using federal troops and court orders to shut down strikes. By the
time World War I began, government started to see the importance of legal rights and became
interested in their ideals. Unions grow in late 19th Century despite violent conflict during the
1950 unions fell into decline as widespread prosperity and unions no longer seemed needed.
After World War II, many union leaders became corrupt and organizations lost its direction.
During the 1970s that erosion began to accelerate and union power entered a decline.
Historically unions have always been clashes of value between workers and management both
have different ideas in the workplace. Managers believe workers should obey their rules and
workers fell their rights should be respected.
Terence Powderlys president of the Knights of Labor was an apprentice in a machine shop who
was unhappy with the working conditions on his job. Powderly joined the Union in Machinists
and Blacksmiths National union in 1871 which he became president, within one year. During the
nineteenth century, Powderly was a strong advocate for better working conditions for workers.
Under Powderly leadership he disagreed with strike, but favored boycotts and peaceful
negotiations. The Knights of Labor was organized in 1869 which was founded by Uriah Stevens.
The Knights had over 700,000 labor members hoping to immediately improve their working

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conditions. The Knights was a private organization until Powderly took control of the
organization in 1879. The Knights of labor only accepted members that were factory workers and
business owners. Excluded members were bankers, lawyers and others engaged in physical labor.
The Knights of labor was rather an inclusive group they allowed women and African Americans
to join their organization. Under Powderly leadership members disagreed with his beliefs in nostriking causing conflict in the organization. Powderly believed that strikes would cause violence
leading to bloodshed and tension. The Knights of labor disbanded after the Haymarket Square
Riot in Chicago, Illinois, in 1886. Powderly was disappointed with his efforts to improve
working conditions; Powderly resigned his position as advocate for the Knights in 1893.
However, by 1887, the organization had seventeen thousand Ohio members. The success
of strikes played a major role in growth of the organization which brought recognition to the
group. Unfortunately, membership began to decline causing a decrease in membership. By the
late 1880s and early 1890s many of the members joined the American Federation of Labor,
which was organized in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886. As Knights carried on strikes and organized
along industrial lines, the national trade union felt threatened by the union and demanded the
group confine itself to its professed labor reform purposes, the organization refused to change
causing members to join the American Federation of Labor.
Samuel Gomperss American Federation of Labor during the nineteenth centuries, was a
prominent labor activist. Gompers was a part of the Cigar makers Union, becoming a leader of
the organization, in 1877. Under his direction he reformed high dues, created a pension plan, and
improved wages, guaranteeing job security for union members. In 1881, Gompers became the
leader for Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of America and Canada. He was the
first president, under his leadership the American Federation of Labor became the largest
organization in America. In the beginning, the organization only allowed skilled workers, and
banned women and African Americans from becoming members of the organization. Many
members complained that the organization was not inclusive; by 1953 the organization finally
allowed African Americans join the organization. By, 1904 membership soared during World
War I, the organization had over 1.7 million members. Throughout the twentieth century, the
American Federation of Labor remained the largest union organization in America. Membership
started to decline between 1953 still only twenty percent of the Union was African American
members. Gompers did not believe that unskilled workers could afford to pay their dues like the
skilled workers he felt they would not be good union members. Gompers also believed that
strikes were the most constructive resolutions of strikes came out of bilateral discussions of the
workers interest. During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson and Gompers worked together
to prevent strikes to maintain the United States; wartime production. Gompers was viewed as
being a strike mediator and negotiator assisting with the debates of both sides. Gompers would
set strikers demands to organizations to work out a compromise. Gompers would travel
internationally to meet with European trade union leaders to support United States workers
organizing efforts. The Industrial Workers of the World War, established in 1905, contained

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many of the ideas (and individuals) from the left that Gompers had come to hate most heatedly.
On top of calling for an end to capitalism and advocating sabotage and violence if
necessary.(Aenesen p.541)
Furthermore, the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor played a key
role in providing an education to workers. The history of labor education in the United States in
1870s provided reading rooms and libraries for their workers to become educated. The
International Ladies Garment Workers Union sponsorship of workers education, implemented
courses in trade unionism and humanities; which was established in 1914. Founded in 1921, the
Workers Education Bureau of American served as the clearinghouse for labor education. In the
era of The New Deal organized labors membership growth saw a parallel expansion in workers
education programs. The Workers Education Bureau America and AFT Workers saw the
necessity of these education programs by adopting a federal project for labor education with the
Federal Emergency Relief Administrations Emergency Program. The Federal Emergency Relief
Administration in 1934, the Emergency Education program trained an estimated 1,700 teachers
within a six-week courses that was offered at university and college campuses in the United
States.
The American Federal Labor unions adapted educational programs recognizing the
importance of education. By the 1920s, there was an importance to have independent labor
colleges. The colleges offered two-year course load which offered debate clubs, music and
theater. The most recognized college was Brookwood Labor College provided a valuable
education to hundreds of graduates who became leaders in the labor movement in the 1930s. In
addition, Technological changes occurred causing the undermined of the craft system production
which was moving in the direction of coal mining, meat packers and garment trades the union
had changed directions. The production industry opened new doors to race, gender, and ethnic
divisions, causing the American Federation of Labor to resist collaboration with their policies of
racial, sexiest boundaries, only for a short period. In 1895, the organization unsuccessful tried to
launch an interracial machinists union independently but failed. The American Federation of
Labor reversed an earlier principled decision and launched a whites-only International
Association of Machinists. Tension over the racial inclusive issues, caused the organization to be
divided. In 1935, John L. Lewis, an American Federation of Labor member formed the
organization called Committee for Industrial Organization for the unskilled workers. By 1937,
the committee expelled all members eventually becoming the Congress of Industrial
Organization. Policies were changed allowing African Americans, and women to join the
organization. The American Federation of Labor and Congress Industrial Organization united
together becoming the largest union in America.
In 1830, the first organized union for women was created by Lowell Mill in
Massachusetts. The textiles mills where the women worked 13 hours a day had enough when
their bosses decided to cut their pay the women went on strike. The women unhappy with their
working condition feeling abused they decided to fight back. They marched to several different

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mills to encourage others to join and sign a petition stating they will not go back to the mills
unless their wages wont change. Although they went on strike, the management still won the
battle. In 1840s, they reorganized refusing to give up changing their strategy to target their goal
in renegotiating they work day hours from 13 to 10 hours a day. The Lowell Female Labor
Reform Association organized a petition campaign capturing 2,000 signatures. They also ask the
State of Massachusetts state legislature to change their workday to 10 hours, which they won.
The Mill workers did not change much but their voices was heard when they decided to stand up
to rights in the workplace.
The 1892, Homestead Strike in Pennsylvania was members of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers were a violent dispute the Carnegie Steel Company and its
employees. The massacre was a gun battle which Pinkerton agents and workers lost their lives.
Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick were the founders of Pinkerton National Detective
Agency. The Carnegie Steel company was the most successful mills in the United States. The
contract between the union and the Carnegie Steel was due to expire on July 1, 1892; Andrew
Carnegie gave Henry Clay Frick the authority to cancel the contract before the expiration date of
the contract. When the union refused to cooperate with the wage cut, Carnegie locked the
workers out and built a barbed wire fence around the steel Mill. Andrew Carnegie went through
the extreme a fired all 3,800 workers from the steel mill and hired non-union members. Once the
union workers figured out what was takin place they traveled to the plant. When the workers and
their families arrived 12 hours of gunshots was exchanged between Pinkerton Guards and union
workers. The Pinkerton was sent to jail for their protection and the barges they traveled on were
burned. The Pinkerton workers had to lead out of town on a train to Pittsburg for their protection.
Three Pinkerton employees and several union members were killed in the massacre. In the
aftermath the union members took over the plant, they had to send in 8,500 state Nation Guards.
The steel mill was taken over by militiamen on July 12. By July 15, the steel mill was reopened
and had replacement workers. There was an assassination attempt against Henry Frick by
Russian anarchist Alexander Beckman. The conflict between the workers and the strikebreakers
where drawn from racial tension which erupted the union to ban African American workers. The
conflict continued among the African American workers where another riot took place in
November 1892. White workers were against the African American firing gunshots at them
causing several people to be injured.

The Clayton Act in law in enacted in1914, which was implemented by congress created
to end prosecution of unions under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Clayton Act law was designed
to control corporate greed. The act was widely hailed as labors Magna Carta. The law was put
in place to override anticompetitive price discrimination. The act also put in place laws that
would help organized unions and prevent anticompetitive mergers. The law prevents major
corporations from creating a monopoly. The law also prevents companies from being the sole
supplier for the company and other products cannot be used. The act addresses lawsuits against

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the government where the United States government has the right to enforce antitrust laws, up to
90 percent of lawsuits by private parties.
The Adamson Act enacted in 1916, which President Woodrow Wilson response to a
pending strike for employees engaged in operation of trains and interstate railway carriers. The
act was established an eight hour work day and provided overtime to workers. The railroad
industry challenged the law claiming that it raised wages instead of regulated hours.
The Great Depression which began it was 1929, known as, the day the stock market
crashed. The stock market collapse cause the biggest catastrophe in America history. During
that time the economy was doing great, stocks reaching astronomical heights. Production was
sound, dividends were huge. Federal officials and businessmen were achieving new heights
which poverty was being absolute. The country was facing the most severe downturn of the
economy ever. The downturn caused banks to fail, the country money supply was wipeout, and
many companies went bankrupt. Unemployment was at all-time high causing major layoffs
across the county. President Herbert Hoover believed the crisis was just a passing incident in
our national lives he declared it as being only an investors panic. By late1932, banks had
continued to fail causing investor hardship causing a strain on assets, many banks was forced
into insolvency. By 1933, over 25,000 banks had failed due to loss of confidence in the
economy. Women who were teachers were not affected by the Great Depression their jobs in that
service industry expanded. An exception was teaching, where women share of jobs fell from
85% to 78% over the decade. The American Federation of Labor re-affirmed that a women
proper place is in the home firing women who were married.
President Franklin Roosevelt was sworn into office where he delivered his speech at
Washington Capital Plaza. Presenting his speech to the America people he assured them that he
will move the county in the right direction, by rebuilding their confidence. President Roosevelt
just in office one day the new president declared a four da bank holiday to stop people from
withdrawing their money from unstable banks. Banks that was insolvent they closed and
reorganized failing banks congressed passed Roosevelt Emergency Banking Act. President
Roosevelt moved swiftly providing the aid stabilizing the country by creating jobs. The
government instituted an experimental program which is known as The New Deal. The
government tried to restore the country. Roosevelts mission to improve the Great Depression
was just beginning. The first step was to get congress to end Prohibition allowing the buy beer by
the end of the year it was approved. The President was making great improvement to the
economy by signing multiple Acts into law.
In addition, within his first hundred days in office, President Roosevelt signed the
Agricultural Adjustment Act, Tennessee Valley Authority Act, and National Industrial Recovery
Act. The Agricultural Adjustment Act, which help end agricultural surpluses and boost prices.
The Tennessee Valley Authority Act was to control flooding by building a dam that would
frequently destroy the farmers crop. The National Industrial Recovery Act guaranteed that

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workers have the right to unionize and bargain collectively for higher wages and safer working
conditions. President Roosevelt included 12 other laws included the Glass-Steagall Banking Act.
The bill was to provide safer and productive use of assets of banks, to regulate interbank control,
to prevent the diversion of funds and to restrict the use of bank credit for speculation and direct
bank credit. Through all the attempts to recover the economy there was still high rates of
unemployment people was still dissatisfied. In spring of 1935, Roosevelt created a second deal
which he introduced the Works Progress Administration to provide jobs for the unemployed. The
Work Progress Administration project competing with private industry was not allowed. The
Works Progress Administration project focused on building bridges, parks, schools and post
offices. The Work Progress Administration also helped people of the arts such as, writers, artists
musicians and theater directors.
In 1911 the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire took place in New York City.
Frances Perkins was at the scene on that tragic day where 146 workers died from the fire. The
factory employed mostly young and impoverished workers. The working conditions at the
factory was unsafe with faulty fire escapes, locked doors, the workers could not escape causing a
worker to jump to her death. Perkins took extreme measures to prevent future workplace
tragedies. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed her executive secretary of a Committee on
Safety. The Committee investigated factories making sure the workplace was up to code for safe
working conditions.
President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins as secretary of labor, in 1933.
Perkins was trained as a social worker. Perkins held her seat in office for twelve years being a
main contributor to the New Deal legislation. Perkins most important contribution was the Social
Security Act of 1935 where she played a key role. Perkins was dedicated to in learning about
labor she took visits to factories observing working conditions in the workplace. Perkins also
interviewed workers documenting work hours, wages. Perkins was dedicated to find a program
that would oversee a social safety net for Americans. Under Franklin Roosevelt administration he
wanted to end the hunger and jobless crisis.
Social Security Act was established in 1935, which was the New Deal most important act
in congress. The Social Security act would benefit every American in the United States. The act
provides for the general welfare of provisions for aged persons, blind persons, payment upon
death, payment towards funerals, unemployment compensation. To fund the program taxes was
deducted from employees wages. Before the act was put in place by law many Americans
suffered from financial hardship after retirement.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was also in the New Deal. The Fair Labor
Standards Act establish workers with minimum wages, limit on working hours per day within a
five day work week. The law assisted with aiding child labor establishing an age limit of who
can work at a certain age. Roosevelt and Perkins established the Public contracts Act of 1936,
which help implement contractors to work an 8 hour shift and 40 hours a day. The act also

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implemented that male workers had to be 16 years old and female workers 18 years old to work.
The Fair Labor Act was the piece of the New Deal.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed to make it illegal to pay employees based on their
sex. The law prohibits ex-based wages discrimination between men and women. The equal pay
act was signed by President Kennedy to give women the right to compete in the workplace
setting the same standards that were offered to men. Many women are not being compensated for
the same position and qualifications that a man has in the workplace. During World War II many
American women replaced men in the labor industry. The National War Labor Board in 1942
fought for women rights, feeling women should be equally compensated for the work they
performed in the labor industry.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, was signed into law by President Lyndon B.
Johnson prohibiting employee discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, and national
origin. The Civil Rights law was enforced by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The
laws also protect Americans from employment decisions based on stereotypes and individuals of
certain racial/ethnic backgrounds. During this time period the Civil Rights movement took place
where many African Americans were still being oppressed. Jim Crow laws, was still enforced
segregating schools, bathrooms, restaurants and many other public places. Civil Rights activist
united to form peaceful protect against discrimination. In April of 1968, Reverend Martin Luther
King visited Memphis to support the sanitation workers that was striking to have a voice in the
workplace. While visiting for the protest Martin Luther king was assassinated in Memphis. There
were many other activists that risked their lives for social change in America.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which entitled African Americans to vote. The law
allowed qualified African American to register to vote in America. Numerous protect and
demonstrations was held to get congress attention to pass the law. The march to Selma, Alabama
took place where violence and bloodshed erupted. Martin Luther King and other major activist
gained national attention to the importance on the issues of voting rights. By the end of 1965, a
quarter million African Americans were registered to vote.
American labor union has benefited many Americans providing job security, health
insurance, pensions, and vacations with pay. Through the decades, the labor movement has
assisted many groups with opportunities and awards in the workplace. The two major labor
unions American Federation of Labor and Congress Industrial Organizations throughout those
years were forced to limit the rights of the unions. There were many laws passed to outlaw
contract language providing union security. Congress wanted to make every picket-line illegal
becoming a federal cause to strike; although the current law is covered by state and local laws.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress Industrial Organization continue to fight over
100 years for companies to provide workers fair treatment on the job. In 1981, union members
demonstrated in Washington D.C. with more than 400,000 members highlighting an
unprecedented Solidarity Day.

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In conclusion, many Americans went on strike for better working conditions, pay and
shorter work weeks and hours. The struggle and sacrifices of working women and men across
America have opened doors to achieve success and provide the American dream. The history of
the labor movement where working Americans, had to win the right to unionize, fight against
discrimination, enforce workplace rights, and company entitlements. The American Federation of
Labor split from Congress Industrial organization in the labor movement occurred in 2005.
Several large unions left the American Federation and Congress Industrial to move on to more
aggressive organizing strategies. In 2005, Change to Win, the United Farm Workers represented
5.4 million workers to split from the American Federation of Labor and Congress Industrial
organization. The history of the labor union still faces many battles with employees rights and
safety conditions in the workplace. Many companies changed their work policies and provided a
safer workplace for employees eliminating the need for companies to unionize. Construction and
other factory workers were conditions on the job are not safe; still have unions within their
organizations. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, enforces health and safety
standard from hazardous material. Companies are seeing the benefits of making employees
happy eliminating organized unions. Today, the union movement still is visible by helping
workers fight and maintain equality from work discrimination and to give workers peace of mind
on the job.

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Work Cited
Arenesen, Eric. U.S labor and working class history. Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis
Vol.1 New York, 2007.

http://www.history.com/topics/labor