The Progressive Era

Pullman, Homestead

American Federation of Labor

Formed in 1886
National trade unions merged into a confederation
Avoided social projects and revolutionary challenges to capitalism.
Recognize that private ownership of the means of production was
inevitable.
Workers should parlay their control of the labor supply in narrowly
defined crafts to achieve prudent increases in wages and benefits.
Workers through collective action can control the labor process and
establish some form of self-rule. (Only organized skilled labor)
Advocated new unionism often called business unionism defined by
hierarchy, high dues, protection of skilled trades.

Lasting significance of the 1890s is the triumph of the AFL over the KOL
and the dominance of the new unionism

 Beginning of the progressive era

Period of Uncertainty, social activism and political and social reform
Main objective was eliminate corruption in government taking
down political machines and their bosses
Regulation of monopolies (Trust busting) via anti-trust laws
Sherman Anti- trust Act

Other issues related to progressive era

Prohibition
Womens suffrage
Efficiency Movement - modernization, scientific, medical end
engineering solutions
Eugenics
Scientific Management Taylorism and Fordism

Philanthropy
Food and Safety The Jungle by Upton Sinclair 1906 Pure Food and
Drug Act

 It was also however significant in its great strikes never before

had labor and capital engage in such a private warfare than during
this decade.
Two notable strikes
Homestead, PA Carnegie Steel (1892) Berkman -> Frick
(Propaganda of Deed)
Pullman Strike Debs Rebellion (1894)

 Andrew Carnegie Richest man in the U.S. Steel Industry

Price of Steel was dropping from $35 to $22 a ton
Wages needed to be cut -> Smash the Union

Used Henry Clay Frick ->Locked out 1,100 workers, who burned
Frick in effigy
Workers wanted to ensure that scabs did not come into the plant
so they began guarding the plant.

Frick ordered Pinkertons to disband the workers. Shoot out for 13

hours. Three detectives and 9 workers dead.
PA militia called. Strike disbanded. Strikers charged.

 Union busted:
1891 24,000 members
1894 10,000 members

Propaganda by Deed:
Alexander Berkman

The Pullman Car

George Pullman developed the first Pullman
car after spending a very uncomfortable
night in a sleeping car on a trip from New
York to Chicago.

The first Pullman Car was designed to be a luxury railroad car that
was a day-coach that turned into a sleeper car at night.

The town of Pullman

George Pullmans ambitions spread also to developing a safe and clean
place for his workers to live.

The problem was that Pullman controlled everything in the town/ Pullman
did not allow the residents to own their homes and hired people to watch
the residents for any inappropriate behavior. He controlled which stores
would be established, what religion would be practiced in the one church
and did not allow alcohol to be served to the residents.

To make matters worse, a depression occurred in the country in 1893-94.

The Pullman workers strike

The Pullman workers joined this union in the spring of
1894, after George Pullman ignored their pleas
The three representatives of the committee who met
with George Pullman were laid off.
90% of the remaining workers voted to strike on May
11
ARU refuses to handle Pullman cars
The strike extended to encompass all of the 24
rail lines out of Chicago

Strike continues
As a result of the boycotts and accompanying strikes, the
U.S. mail delivery by the railroad and interstate commerce
is affected.
Federal troops are called in to help because of the mail
stoppage.
July 1st, injunction against Eugene Debs and American
Railway Union
July 4th, President Cleveland sent federal troops to protect
the Pullman factory
Federal troops ended the blockade and trains began
moving again
Debs is arrested
Strike officially ends as of July 12, 1894

Trade Unionism vs. Industrial Unionism

Growing number within the labor movement began to urge the
reexamination of craft union ideology and practice.
Some suspected that government was likely going to remain as a
tool of the owning class.
Others argued that Labor Like Capital should try and
influence state policy in its favor.
Radicals, Industrial Unionist, radical trade unionists and all
around hell-raisers came together in June 24, 1905 to form the
Industrial Workers of the World.
Motto: An Injury to One is an Injury to All

Trade Unionism vs. Industrial Unionism

Advocated:

Industrial Syndicalism/Industrial Unionism

Organizing of All workers under One Big Union.
Abolition of the Wage System
Was critical of the AFL, which it called a Business Union. Argued
instead for Solidarity Unionism.
Instead of arguing the work ethic, they argued the shirk ethic
Political Action v Direct Action

The IWWs emergence onto the stage developed a debate

between responsible unionism (AFL), radical unionism (IWW) and
anti-unionism (companies)