Labor Unions
Strikes
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the result of a second wage cut for workers in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Workers refused to let trains move, and the state governor sent state militia to stop the crisis, but the soldiers refused to take action against the workers.
The strike soon started to spread to Cumberland and Baltimore, Maryland. When the governor of Maryland sent out the national guard to break up the strike, street fighting broke out in Baltimore. The strike was then spread to Pittsburgh where the worst violence occurred. On July 21, 1877, the Pennsylvania militia was sent in and fought with well-armed workers who were violent and had weapons. As result, sixteen men were killed and 39 buildings were set on fire. The next day, 20 more strikers were killed as the fighting continued with the militia.
The strike continued to spread across the country, and the Pinkertons were called in to break it up. The railroads sent in other workers to replace those who went on strike, and in the end, 100 men were killed and damage caused to property was estimated to be around $100 million.
The strike soon started to spread to Cumberland and Baltimore, Maryland. When the governor of Maryland sent out the national guard to break up the strike, street fighting broke out in Baltimore. The strike was then spread to Pittsburgh where the worst violence occurred. On July 21, 1877, the Pennsylvania militia was sent in and fought with well-armed workers who were violent and had weapons. As result, sixteen men were killed and 39 buildings were set on fire. The next day, 20 more strikers were killed as the fighting continued with the militia.
The strike continued to spread across the country, and the Pinkertons were called in to break it up. The railroads sent in other workers to replace those who went on strike, and in the end, 100 men were killed and damage caused to property was estimated to be around $100 million.
Haymarket Square
In May of 1886, a peaceful communist-led workers' meeting in Haymarket Square protesting the McCormack plant in Chicago turned deadly when a bomb exploded targeting police that were called in to break up the meeting. Seven policemen were killed and dozens were wounded. Overall, the Haymarket Square gave a bad reputation for unions and protesters because of the action of a few radical leaders.
Homestead Strike
When Henry Clay Frick, manager for Carnegie Steel Company in Homestead, Pennsylvania, decided to cut wages for workers, a strike occurred. Frick called in the Pinkertons to deal with the crisis, but when they tried to arrive on shore by boat on the Monongahela River, the workers fired upon them. They killed seven Pinkertons.
After the attack on the Pinkerton's boat, the state militia was called in. During the violence, a Russian anarchist, Alexander Berkman, attacked and stabbed Henry Clay Frick; Berkman was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
After the attack on the Pinkerton's boat, the state militia was called in. During the violence, a Russian anarchist, Alexander Berkman, attacked and stabbed Henry Clay Frick; Berkman was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Pullman Strike
George Pullman organized the Pullman Palace Car Company in Pullman, Chicago. Pullman's company owned almost all aspects of the town, and workers were forced to spend their income on goods and services provided by his company. When Pullman cut workers' wages by 25-40% in 1893 without lowering rents or other living costs in the town, workers became upset because they could no longer afford to buy the necessary things that they needed.
Workers tried to negotiate for better conditions, but Pullman fired them instead. As a result, Eugene Debs, the American Railway Union leader, called a strike that asked workers not to service trains that were pulling Pullman cars. Because of this, there was a lack in workers for Pullman's company, and the federal government became involved. President Cleveland sent troops to Chicago to run the railroads, and the strike ended several days later. Those who helped organize it were given criminal charges, including Eugene Debs.
Workers tried to negotiate for better conditions, but Pullman fired them instead. As a result, Eugene Debs, the American Railway Union leader, called a strike that asked workers not to service trains that were pulling Pullman cars. Because of this, there was a lack in workers for Pullman's company, and the federal government became involved. President Cleveland sent troops to Chicago to run the railroads, and the strike ended several days later. Those who helped organize it were given criminal charges, including Eugene Debs.