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Trade Unions & the Gilded Age - Coggle Diagram
Trade Unions & the Gilded Age
wages, particularly for skilled workers, grew by up to 60%
the growth of the US economy (7% per year) had a positive effect on working conditions
rapid industrialisation created significant demand for labour - the workforce grew from 885,000 to 3.2 million by 1900
the development of the railways and heavy industry led to increased employment opportunities
period of significant inequality, with many people missing out on increased prosperity - 2% of the population controlled one-third of the nation's wealth
unskilled workers earned just 30% of a skilled worker's wage
mechanisation decreased the demand for skilled labour
the 'contract system' meant many workers lacked job security and could be laid off with limited notice
conditions were poor - workers had limited rights, working long hours for low pay in dangerous workplaces
in 1889 alone over 2000 rail workers died in industrial accidents
a series of violent strikes damaged the standing of trade unions
an economic slump at the end of the 1880s weakened the position of workers, leading to lower job security, unemployment and lower wages
divisions between skilled/unskilled workers, and the fear of jobs being undercut by AA, immigrant and female workers weakened the effectiveness of unions
the Federal government's 'laissez-faire' policies gave corporations a free hand and meant there was no protective legislation for the workforce
the courts often backed employers, limiting protections and regularly ruling against workers and unions
the number of craft unions increased
the KOL (founded 1869) represented 700,000 workers by 1886, including AAs and women
the AFL was founded in 1886, creating the first successful national labour federation
some employers were willing to work and negotiate with the AFL, leading to gains for some workers
unions were able to increase their local and national political influence by supporting labour friendly candidates in elections
sickness clubs provided some financial support to workers during periods of illness or injury
the government saw unions as a barrier to economic growth that would damage the prosperity of the nation
by 1900 only 2% of trade union members were women
women were excluded from many sections of the workforce, and experienced wage discrimination in other areas, leading to a significant pay gap
male trade unionists offered limited support to women as they were concerned about the undercutting of wages
unions such as the KOL offered support to women workers - by the 1880s there 113 women's assemblies and 50,000 women members
the gains achieved were short lived with workers' position being weakened by both divisions within the labour movement and opposition from both the government and employers
many of the new, unskilled workers were excluded from unions and therefore had no representation or protection
employers were against improving health & safety due to the impact it would have on profits
injured workers received little to no compensation - the courts took the view that unjury was a risk employees had to take
the success of the Wabash Railroad Strike in 1885 encouraged more workers to join unions
agricultural and non-industrial workers had little to no union representation
wealthy industrialists such as Rockefeller and Carnegie built up large corporations and exploited workers
the Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890 viewed unions as 'trusts' - which meant strikes, boycotts, picketing and collective bargaining could all be limited
Pullman Strike 1894 - first national strike, however banned by courts and broken by Federal troops, with four workers killed
Omnibus Indictment 1894 - courts passed injunction banning union action during the Pullman Strike
In re Debs 1895 - SC ruled government had rigth to issue injuctions against striking workers
Haymarket Affair 1886 - strike at the McCormick Harvester Plant leads to violence - four workers killed by police, then seven police killed by a bomb - led to the collapse of the KOL
Mollly Maguires formed in the 1870s - campaign of violence and murder led to many workers being reluctant to join unions
Homestead Strike 1892 - strike led to a battle between workers and agents from the Pinkerton Detective Agency - led to the collapse of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers