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Great Southwest Railroad Strike
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 violence and scare tactics. Eventually, the strike failed and the Knights of Labor fell apart soon afterwards. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Congress passes the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Intended to block business monopolies, it will be used effectively by employers against unions.This helped smaller businesses thrive and large companies to reduce their power. -
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 American Railway Union, who refused to work on or run any trains, including Pullman-owned cars. Soon enough, industry workers joined in the strike, effectively shutting down train traffic to Chicago. The strike ended when President Grover Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago on July 6, 1894. -
Ludlow Massacre
Violence breaks out in a camp housing striking miners in Ludlow, Colorado. National Guardsmen machinegun strikers and set fire to their tents, killing five miners, two women, and twelve children. More than 75 people will be killed over the full course of the industrial dispute. The miners were unhappy and that made them turn hostile. -
Gomper Dies
Samuel Gompers, the most influential of the early labor leaders, dies at age 74. Many people were influenced by him and his desire for change in unions. -
Wagner Act
President Roosevelt signs into law the National Labor Relations Act, known as the Wagner Act. The law helps union organizing efforts and authorizes the National Labor Relations Board to make sure there is fairness in union elections and during collective bargaining with employers. The new law tilts the playing field significantly in labor's favor, prompting a huge unionization drive throughout the late 1930s. People wanted fairness in unions and that was what this act did, -
National Labor Relations Act
Passed during the New Deal, gives workers the legal right to form unions and requires employers to bargain with the union over wages, hours, and working conditions. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) enforces this law. Helps people that want to be in unions strive. Also helps worker wages and hours. -
Social Security Act
Passed during the New Deal, address growing poverty among the elderly, this law provides old-age, survivor, and disability benefits and health insurance. It also establishes the right to receive unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation. It is administered by the Social Security Administration.This made the older generation happy because they were getting compensated for all their hard work and dedication. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
the FLSA establishes a federal minimum wage, overtime pay requirements, and child labor standards. The U.S. Department of
Labor (DOL) enforces this law. This Act helped set boundaries in the factory af who was able to work there. Children were no longer aloud to work in factories. -
Steel Strike
During 1959, steel industry profits were skyrocketing. Noticing this, the nations steelworkers, represented by the United Steelworkers of America, demanded higher wages. At the same time, management was working against the union to lose a contract clause that protected worker jobs and hours. This conflict resulted in a 500,000-worker strike, the effects of which were felt throughout the industry. In the end, the union received wage increases and preserved the contract clause. -
Postal Strike
More than 200,000 postal workers walked out of their job on strike. This was the first public job that had a strike.Eventhough it was illegal President Nixon had the army and military deliver the mail. After the 2 week strike many things changes and it began leading to a modernization of the postal services.
