Labor Union strikes were the most prominent form of worker insurrection against employers. During the period of 1875-1900, many labor unions participated in strikes, however many of them failed to achieve their goals. The biggest reason that farmers and workers went on strike was clearly stated by a machinist before the Senate Committee on Labor and Capital. Because machines were taking jobs away, workers would lose their livelihood, and most likely their only source of income. In the year of 1877, employees working for the four largest railroads went on strike due to the fact that their employers cut their wages by 10 percent; this was known as the Great Rail Road Strike.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was an event that held relevance in American history. On March, 25, 1911 at approximately 4:40 PM a fire broke out in the company's factory in New York City which was the deadliest industrial disaster. 147 workers died in that incident, they either died from the fire or jumped from the window. It was considered the most tragic fire incident in New York City. "The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies' Garment workers' Union, which fought for better and safer working conditions for sweatshop workers in that industry" (Wikipedia) The fire occurred due to the poor and unsafe working condition in the factory.
Trolley service was completely cut by a sympathy strike a short time after the negotiations began. The power strike also caused other strikes to follow; like when the city’s eight major hotels to close when hotel restaurant employees walked off their jobs to enforce wage demands. The Pittsburgh power strike of 1946 was a just one of the many strike during 1946. The United States was at a time where it was just coming out of the war, and workers went one strike because they knew they could get more money out of their employers. Work Cited
Most people who worked in the factories lived in the factories which had little living space, lack of proper ventilation and lack of proper hygiene (Wikipedia). Due to the poor living conditions and overcrowding people were subject to health issues and death related from communicable diseases. Along with the poor living conditions, hunger and malnutrition were common during this time. Labor laws did not exist. Workers worked long hours without breaks and children were also subjected to these cruel working conditions as they were often put to work alongside their parents.
Immigrants worked in sweatshops that were dangerous. Many immigrant workers were killed and injured (OK). Even young children worked in these dangerous factories (OK). Reformers and Progressives got laws passed to prohibit child labor. They also got a minimum wage set for women (Document 3).
The city revolved around a “survival of the fittest” manner and would chew you up only to spit you back out for another beating if you didn’t comply. The unfair techniques politicians used to scam elections made it close to impossible for the weak to gain any strength. So the days carried on for the immigrants, who mainly worked in factories. Low pay kept the people on a tight working schedule and made it tough to live. The conditions were so bad many people ended up unable to work due to sickness or death from either the meat or exhaustion.
INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL ISSUES IN THE HISTORY OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY Michelle Gilruth The Social Issue of Unions There are many social issues that have affected manufacturing over the years. Many of these issues led to the formation of unions. Before unions, unskilled workers did not fair well. They received half the pay of skilled workers like craftsmen, artisans, and mechanics. Many people moved to cities to work in industry and about 40 percent of those workers were low-wage earners.1 As industry grew, women, children, and poor immigrants found themselves the main targets for work in factories.
1/3 of all Russian babies died before their first birthday. Russia was flailing WWI, unemployment was high – a classic formula for dissent. The partial industrialization of Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which created an urban working class in places like St. Petersburg and Moscow that could organize against its exploitation through unions and workers councils (known as 'the soviets'). This enabled the workers to work together much more effectively against their bosses than the scattered, isolated, and thus largely de-politicized peasantry. The cities were also connected via trade and communication to the outside world, where intellectuals and workers alike had access to revolutionary ideas from Western Europe such as Marxism.
The fires that were a direct result from the main shock and the aftershocks were just as damaging because of the uncontrollable burning from ruptured gas lines. Over 30 fires destroyed more than 25,000 homes on 490 city blocks. Water mains were broken due to the quake which gave the fire department few resources to work with. The Navy contributed to putting out fires by running water lines and providing water to the city’s fire department for their steam engines. International assistance was extremely beneficial because a lot of money was raised and donated to the city for reconstruction.
People called these times the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, workers lost their jobs and many people went hungry as well. Milton didn’t want these things happening in Hershey, so he planned all kinds of new building projects to make sure all of his workers had a job. One day, someone had pointed out a steam shovel at one of his building sites. (The steam shovel did work for forty men.)