AICE us history

Pullman Strike (1894)

A wildcat walk‑out by nearly 4,000 Pullman Palace Car workers over a 25 % wage cut while rents in the company town stayed high. The American Railway Union (ARU) under Eugene Debs expanded the conflict into a national boycott of Pullman cars, halting rail traffic across the country  Federal courts issued injunctions, and President Grover Cleveland sent troops to Chicago, leading to violent clashes and the arrest of Debs 

Haymarket Affair (1886)

 In Chicago’s Haymarket Square, a peaceful rally for an eight‑hour workday turned deadly when an unknown gunman shot police; police responded with gunfire, killing several workers and bystanders. The incident sparked a nationwide backlash against labor radicals and several anarchists were controversially tried and executed.

Homestead Strike (1892)

Steelworkers at Carnegie Steel’s Homestead plant, organized by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, struck after wage cuts. When plant manager Henry Frick hired Pinkerton agents, a violent battle erupted on July 6, resulting in deaths on both sides and the eventual defeat of the union .

Ludlow Massacre (1914)

Striking coal miners in Colorado’s Ludlow camp, supported by the United Mine Workers, were attacked by Colorado National Guard and private guards; the camp was set ablaze, killing dozens, including women and children, intensifying public sympathy for labor reforms.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Prompted by a 10% wage cut on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, workers across multiple states seized trains and halted traffic. Federal troops were called in to suppress the unrest, marking the first major nationwide labor uprising in the United States .

Flint Sit-down Strike (1936-37)

United Auto Workers members occupied General Motors factories in Flint, Michigan, refusing to work until union recognition and better wages were granted. The 44‑day sit‑down forced GM to sign a contract, establishing the UAW as a major industrial union.

Memorial Day Massacre (1937)

During a peaceful march by the United Auto Workers at the Republic Steel plant in Chicago, police opened fire on strikers, killing ten and wounding many. The violent suppression highlighted the struggle for union recognition in the steel industry.