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Labor Unions & Major Strikes

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Activity: You are workers at a skate factory. Write a letter to your boss listing the changes you want.

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Activity 2: Your boss rejects your list! What will you do now?

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Problems for Workers Poor work conditions Low Pay Long Hours Unsafe work Children work No sick or vacation pay If hurt on job lose your job

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Tactics Used By Management Blacklist: your name goes on a list that is given to other companies so they wont hire you Yellow Dog Contracts: the company makes you sign a contract that you wont join a union Scabs: Immigrants who will take the jobs of striking workers

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What can the workers do? Form a union! Labor Union: a group that helps workers fight for rights

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Tactics Used by Workers Work Slowdown: you go to work but make less so it hurts the profit of the business Picket: hold signs outside so people wont buy from that business Boycott: dont buy the goods/services Strike: Dont work

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How do they work together? Collective Bargaining: both sides negotiate pay, hours etc Mediation: a third party helps the two come to an agreement but they dont have to take the advice Arbitration: a third party gives advice that the sides have to do

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First Major Strikes

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Railroad Strike of 1877 Company was going to cut wages 10% Militia in Philadelphia kills some workers President Hayes sent out troops

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Who Won? Management

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Homestead Strike 1892 AFL Iron/Steel Workers against Carnegie His Asst. Frick cuts wages Frick uses Pinkertons to break up strike Deaths and Injuries Both Sides Frick almost gets assassinated Union calls off Strike

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Who Won? Management

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Pullman Strike 1894 Railroad Pullman started towns for his workers Cut Wages 25 to 40% Strike Affects Mail Pres. Cleveland stops strike and sends troops

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Who Won? Management

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Effect? Government doesnt recognize unions Violence/Unrest

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Why is it hard for workers to win rights? Because so many new immigrants increase supply of workers! Immigrants will work for less!