DEPTH STUDIES WORKERS AND UNIONS:
WORKERS AND UNIONS IN THE GILDED AGE
Improved their positon:
1. Wages rose 60% for some skilled workers, even though workforce increased (immigratonn
2. US industry overtook GB created increase in the demand for labour
3. KOL saw a considerable increase in membership (incl AA’s + womenn –20K in 1881 - 700K 1886
following victory in Wabash Railroad Strike
4. AFL formed 1886 had considerable bargaining power bc represented skilled workers won
most disputes involved in by 1900 had 500K members.
5. Unions able to extend power into politcs at both a local + natonal lvl e.g. KOL campaigned for
a 40hr wk, end to child labour & consultaton of workers by employers
6. Sickness clubs formed allowing workers to contribute to & receive some pay if unable to work
Weakened their positon:
1. Period of inequality + poverty for workforce 2% of pop owned 30% of wealth – Carnegie
(steeln made huge proft from exploitng workers
2. Increase in mechanisaton increased demand for skilled labour whilst wages of unskilled labour
= 30% of those of skilled workers
3. Immigraton reduced bargaining power 20mill immigrants arrived 1880- 1920.
4. Workers + unions = vulnerable to econ changes “Panic” of 1893-7 widespread wage cuts &
∴ violent strikes like Pullman Strike 1894
5. Workers had few rights worked long hours in dangerous conditons 1889 = 2000 rail
workers killed accidents
6. USA = highest rate of industrial accidents in the world in only 2% of cases did injured
workers receive compensaton female & ethnic minority workers = worst treated
7. Defeat in Great SW Railroad + Haymarket Afair (both 1886n damaged rep of unions + caused
decline in KOL membership = lost over 90% membership by 1890 + ceased to exist by 1900
8. Homestead 1882 = Pennsylvania Steel workers couldn’t unionise & didn’t regain it untl 1937-41
9. AA workers were treated worse Louisiana sugar plantatons went on strike in 1887 35
members of their families massacred by thugs hired by the landowners & the rest had to return
to work on employers’ terms no union rep untl 1940s
10. Labour force = deeply divided AA’s ofen excl + division worse bc immigraton (prevented
from joining unions bc they increased fears about falling wagesn
11. KOL = involved in a massacre of Chinese workers at Rock Springs in 1885.
12. Employers exploited divisions Pullman Strike 1894: skilled WASP workers refused to support
a strike which involved unskilled immigrants; company used AA scabs
13. Laissez-faire meant workers were denied protectve legislaton
14. Employers/corporatons encouraged to maximise profts at expense of worker’s rights
15. Sherman Ant--rust Act 1890 used agt workers wishing to create protectve contracts with
employers BUT the fed govt, ignored march of “Coxey’s Army” 1894 which demanded the fed
govt intervene to create jobs
16. “laissez faire” in favour of employers Pullman company allowed to dictate to workers where
they could live & charge excessive rents Fed govt supported employers in strike 1894;
Attorney General issued an injuncton banning the strike which the S.C. upheld 12K fed troops
sent to enforce this (killing 30 strikersn
WORKERS AND UNIONS IN THE GILDED AGE
Improved their positon:
1. Wages rose 60% for some skilled workers, even though workforce increased (immigratonn
2. US industry overtook GB created increase in the demand for labour
3. KOL saw a considerable increase in membership (incl AA’s + womenn –20K in 1881 - 700K 1886
following victory in Wabash Railroad Strike
4. AFL formed 1886 had considerable bargaining power bc represented skilled workers won
most disputes involved in by 1900 had 500K members.
5. Unions able to extend power into politcs at both a local + natonal lvl e.g. KOL campaigned for
a 40hr wk, end to child labour & consultaton of workers by employers
6. Sickness clubs formed allowing workers to contribute to & receive some pay if unable to work
Weakened their positon:
1. Period of inequality + poverty for workforce 2% of pop owned 30% of wealth – Carnegie
(steeln made huge proft from exploitng workers
2. Increase in mechanisaton increased demand for skilled labour whilst wages of unskilled labour
= 30% of those of skilled workers
3. Immigraton reduced bargaining power 20mill immigrants arrived 1880- 1920.
4. Workers + unions = vulnerable to econ changes “Panic” of 1893-7 widespread wage cuts &
∴ violent strikes like Pullman Strike 1894
5. Workers had few rights worked long hours in dangerous conditons 1889 = 2000 rail
workers killed accidents
6. USA = highest rate of industrial accidents in the world in only 2% of cases did injured
workers receive compensaton female & ethnic minority workers = worst treated
7. Defeat in Great SW Railroad + Haymarket Afair (both 1886n damaged rep of unions + caused
decline in KOL membership = lost over 90% membership by 1890 + ceased to exist by 1900
8. Homestead 1882 = Pennsylvania Steel workers couldn’t unionise & didn’t regain it untl 1937-41
9. AA workers were treated worse Louisiana sugar plantatons went on strike in 1887 35
members of their families massacred by thugs hired by the landowners & the rest had to return
to work on employers’ terms no union rep untl 1940s
10. Labour force = deeply divided AA’s ofen excl + division worse bc immigraton (prevented
from joining unions bc they increased fears about falling wagesn
11. KOL = involved in a massacre of Chinese workers at Rock Springs in 1885.
12. Employers exploited divisions Pullman Strike 1894: skilled WASP workers refused to support
a strike which involved unskilled immigrants; company used AA scabs
13. Laissez-faire meant workers were denied protectve legislaton
14. Employers/corporatons encouraged to maximise profts at expense of worker’s rights
15. Sherman Ant--rust Act 1890 used agt workers wishing to create protectve contracts with
employers BUT the fed govt, ignored march of “Coxey’s Army” 1894 which demanded the fed
govt intervene to create jobs
16. “laissez faire” in favour of employers Pullman company allowed to dictate to workers where
they could live & charge excessive rents Fed govt supported employers in strike 1894;
Attorney General issued an injuncton banning the strike which the S.C. upheld 12K fed troops
sent to enforce this (killing 30 strikersn
