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Great Southwest Railroad Strike
In 1886, the Knights of Labor went on strike at the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads, owned by robber baron Jay Gould. Hundreds of thousands of workers across five states refused to work, citing unsafe conditions and unfair hours and pay. The strike suffered from a lack of commitment from other railroad unions, the successful hiring of nonunion workers by Gould and from scare tactics. Eventually, the strike failed and the Knights of Labor disbanded soon afterwards. -
The Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was the first measure passed by the U.S. Congress to prohibit trusts. The trusts came to dominate a number of major industries, destroying competition. -
The 1892 Homestead Strike
The skilled workers at the steel mills in Homestead, seven miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh, were members of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers who had bargained exceptionally good wages and work rules. Homestead's management, with millionaire Andrew Carnegie as owner, was determined to lower its costs of production by breaking the union. -
The Battle of Cripple Creek
These days, the town of Cripple Creek, Colo., is best known for casinos—14 of them. A century ago, Cripple Creek was famous for important, dramatic battles where workers fought to win their rights.
It all began in 1894. Cripple Creek had become a boom town after gold was discovered. Some 150 mines sprang up. So did a strong miners union—the Free Coinage Union No. 19, which was part of the militant Western Federation of Miners. -
The Battle of Cripple Creek
A century ago, Cripple Creek was famous for important, dramatic battles where workers fought to win their rights.
It all began in 1894. Cripple Creek had become a boom town after gold was discovered. Some 150 mines sprang up. So did a strong miners union—the Free Coinage Union No. 19, which was part of the militant Western Federation of Miners. -
The Pullman Strike
Facing 12-hour work days and wage cuts resulting from the depressed economy, factory workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company walked out in protest. The workers were soon joined by members of the ARU, who refused to work on or run any train. Soon enough, 250,000 industry workers joined in the strike, effectively shutting down train traffic to the west of Chicago. Widespread sympathy for the workers cause promoted prounion sentiment across many areas of the country. -
The Pullman Strike
Facing 12-hour work days and wage cuts resulting from the depressed economy, factory workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company walked out in protest. The workers were soon joined by members of the ARU, who refused to work on or run any trains. Soon enough, 250,000 industry workers joined in the strike, effectively shutting down train traffic to the west of Chicago. Widespread sympathy for the workers cause promoted prounion sentiment across many areas of the country. -
Great Anthracite Coal Strike
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) began a strike that threatened to create an energy crisis. Seeking better wages and conditions, the union went on strike in eastern Pennsylvania, an area that contained the majority of the nations supply of anthracite coal. Industrialist and financier J.P. Morgan believed the strike could threaten his businesses and made a deal with the union. The UMWAs initial demands were for a 20% wage increase. They wound up with a 10% raise. -
Great Anthracite Coal Strike
At the turn of the last century, the (UMWA) began a strike that threatened to create an energy crisis. Seeking better wages and conditions, the union went on strike in eastern Pennsylvania, an area that contained the majority of the nations supply of anthracite coal. Industrialist and financier J.P. Morgan believed the strike could threaten his businesses and made a deal with the union. The UMWAs initial demands were for a 20% wage increase. They wound up with a 10% raise. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
A fire broke out on the top floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. Trapped inside because the owners had locked the fire escape exit doors, workers jumped to their deaths. For some, such as Frances Perkins, who stood helpless watching the factory burn, the tragedy inspired a lifetime of advocacy for workers’ rights. She later became secretary of labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
A fire broke out on the top floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. Trapped inside because the owners had locked the fire escape exit doors, workers jumped to their deaths. For some, such as Frances Perkins, who stood helpless watching the factory burn, the tragedy inspired a lifetime of advocacy for workers’ rights. She later became secretary of labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
National Labor Relations Act
Congress enacted the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA") to protect the rights of employees and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to curtail certain private sector labor and management practices, which can harm the general welfare of workers, businesses and the U.S. economy. -
National Labor Relations Act
Congress enacted the National Labor Relations Act in to protect the rights of employees and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to curtail certain private sector labor and management practices, which can harm the general welfare of workers, businesses and the U.S. economy. -
The Labor Management Relations Act
The Taft–Hartley Act is a United States federal law that restricts the activities and power of labor unions. This made it illegal to practice closed shops and jurisdictional strikes, and made it legal for employers to oppose unions. -
The Labor Management Relations Act
The Taft-Hartley Act limited the power of unions and outlawed jurisdictional strikes and closed shops. It also gave employers the right to oppose and not hire people only in unions. But collected bargaining agreements were now enforced -
The Great Postal Strike of 1970
200,000 postal workers went on strike to protest their pay. The protest caused a national emergency until addressed by Richard Nixon. This movement made it possible for future unions to negotiate their salary -
The Great Postal Strike of 1970
200,000 postal workers went on strike to protest their pay. The skrike caused a national emergency until addressed by Richard Nixon. Nixon made it now legal for unions to negotiate their salary.
