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Labor Unions during the Gilded Age (American Federation of Labor (Not…
Labor Unions during the Gilded Age
Industrial Workers of the World
Much of the membership was made up of immigrants
¨An injury to one is an injury to all¨ - wanted to unite all laborers, especially African Americans
Led by Mary Harris Jones, and the federal government regarded her as one of the most dangerous women in America.
A safe haven for anarchists
Small membership numbers (Less than 150,000)
Known as Wobblies
Advocated for violence/riots
Promoted ideas of eliminating the divisions between classes (Class conflict)
Knights of Labor
Began in 1869 with origins as a secret society to avoid detection by employers. Led by Terence V. Powderly and the union went public in 1881
Opened for African Americans and women
Favored to not perform strikes, however its loose organization made it susceptible to locals striking
Worker cooperatives, abolish child labor, 8 hour work days, abolish trusts and monopolies
Haymarket riot in Chicago (1886) made the labor organization lose support
Peak membership of 730,000 members by 1886
Vied for public ownership of railroads and telegraphs
1885: Won a strike vs Jay Gould´s railroad
American Federation of Labor
Not focused on social reform, simply economic goals
Found in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. He met with other craft unions, so every member was a skilled worker.
Higher wages, shorter work weeks, and improved working conditions
Supported strikes and walk-outs in order to compel negotiation
Largest union with 1 million members by 1901
Dominant national organization for skilled workers until the Great Depression
Provided relief for workers who were doing a strike
Collected membership dues
Pushed for the idea of a ¨closed shop¨, where in order to employ someone, they must be in a union.