week 4

Industrial Unionism

  • Definition: Industrial unionism is an approach to union organization that seeks to unite all workers in an industry, regardless of their specific job role or skill level, under a single union.

The American Railway Union (ARU)

  • Formation:

    • Created in 1893 by Eugene V. Debs and Western railroad workers emerging from the Knights of Labor.

  • Characteristics:

    • The ARU was classified as an industrial union, differentiating itself from the craft unions associated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

    • Admission criteria included low dues and acceptance of all white railroad workers, irrespective of their skill level or job.

    • Noteworthy inclusion: “Even the laundresses who cleaned the sheets from the sleeping compartments.”

  • Exclusion:

    • Despite Debs’ intentions, ARU excluded African American workers from membership.

The ARU and the Pullman Strike

  • Background:

    • A crucial question posed by the Pullman strikers: Why did the railroad workers at the Pullman Company feel compelled to strike?

  • Strikers' Stance:

    • They described Pullman, both the man and the town, as “an ulcer on the body politic.”

  • Eugene Debs' Role:

    • Discussion on Debs' involvement and leadership during the strike.

  • Outcomes of the Strike:

    • How the strike concluded and its consequences for Debs’ political vision and ethos towards labor and the economy.

  • Film Reference:

    • Clip from Yale Strom’s documentary, American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene V. Debs, depicts events surrounding the ARU and the Pullman Strike.

Legacies of the Pullman Strike

  • Government Response:

    • Attorney General Richard Olney issued a sweeping injunction against Debs and the ARU, rendering the strike illegal.

    • State militias and federal troops intervened, effectively breaking the strike.

  • Legal Consequences:

    • The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the injunction in the pivotal case In Re Debs, resulting in Debs serving six months in prison.

  • Repeating Patterns:

    • Following this event, the practice of utilizing injunctions, state militias, federal troops, and various law enforcement tactics became commonplace strategies for dismantling strikes.

  • Impact on Unions:

    • Unions faced persistent challenges in organizing workers and negotiating effectively with employers due to heightened opposition and legal restrictions.

    • Notably, Richard Olney retained positions on the boards of several railroad companies while acting as Attorney General.

Social and Political Implications

  • Class Relations:

    • The Pullman Strike highlighted deteriorating social class relations in the United States, mirroring previous labor conflicts of 1877, 1886, and 1892.

  • Rise of Radical Politics:

    • There was a notable growth in more radical political movements, as workers sought innovative approaches to organization.

  • Debs' Transformation:

    • After his imprisonment, Eugene V. Debs emerged as a socialist leader, ultimately becoming a prominent figure in the early 20th century socialist movement and a founder of the Socialist Party of America.

The Socialist Party

  • Significance:

    • Eugene V. Debs' leadership was central to the early successes of the Socialist Party in America, particularly in the 1904 presidential campaign.

King Coal, the UMWA, and Mother Jones

  • Historical Context:

    • The course transitions to an exploration of coal mining, its workforce, and the influence of notable figures like Mother Jones on labor movements.

Coal Mining and Popular Music

  • Mentioned cultural representations of coal mining through popular songs, including:

    • “16 Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford

    • “Dark as a Dungeon” by Merle Travis

    • “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by Loretta Lynn

    • “Paradise” by John Prine

    • “Fire in the Hole” by Hazel Dickens

    • “Harlan Man” by Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band

King Coal

  • Economic Importance:

    • Critical fuel source for iron and steel production, steam locomotives, electricity generation, and household heating.

  • Production Statistics:

    • Coal production figures:

    • 1840: 2 million tons

    • 1870: 37 million tons

    • 1900: 350 million tons

  • Growth of Workforce:

    • Number of coal miners:

    • 1840: 7,000 miners

    • 1870: 186,000 miners

    • 1900: 677,000 miners

  • Ownership Trends:

    • Initially, coal mining ownership was dispersed among many small operations. By the early 1900s, only a few companies dominated specific mining regions, leading to significant corporate conglomeration.

    • Characteristic of mining communities: Coal companies would often own housing and operate company stores, mandating that miners purchase goods on-site while paying them in scrip instead of cash.

Coal Mining Conditions

  • Occupational Hazards:

    • Described as skilled yet dangerous work, numerous risks included:

    • Cave-ins

    • Rock falls

    • Methane and coal dust explosions

    • Statistical impact: Approximately 50,000 miners perished in workplace accidents from 1870 to 1914.

    • Long-term occupational illnesses such as black lung, rheumatism, and emphysema were common among miners.

  • Demographics of Miners:

    • The majority of miners in the late 1800s were emigrants from the coal mining communities of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, bringing traditional practices with them.

    • By the early 1900s, there was an observable increase in recent migrants from Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as African Americans entering the mining workforce.

Child Labor in Mining

  • Involvement of Children:

    • While few women worked directly in the mines, many children worked in various capacities, including:

    • Assisting fathers in the mines

    • Tending to mules and horses

    • Working as “breaker boys” sorting coal from rock and slate.

  • Advocacy Through Visual Documentation:

    • Photographer Lewis Hine’s efforts to document child labor aimed to raise awareness and promote labor reforms.

Radicalism in the Mines: The Molly Maguires, 1870s

  • Context of Radical Activity:

    • In 1877, ten Irish coal miners were executed after being convicted for their alleged involvement in the secret society known as the Molly Maguires, which was accused of murder, arson, and industrial sabotage.

    • The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of James McParland, a Pinkerton detective who infiltrated the Molly Maguires.

    • Coal companies claimed a direct link between the Molly Maguires and the Workingmen’s Benevolent Association, an early trade union for coal miners.

Industrial Unionism in the AFL: The United Mine Workers of America

  • Foundation:

    • The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) was established in 1890.

  • Relationship with AFL:

    • UMWA became an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor, advocating industrial unionism for all coal mining workers.

  • Unity Among Miners:

    • Despite existing ethnic and racial divisions, miners collaborated within the UMWA to confront low wages, hazardous work conditions, and the overarching power of coal companies in their communities.

  • Striking History:

    • Numerous strikes occurred from the 1890s through the 1910s, involving large numbers of miners, often reaching hundreds of thousands.

    • Many of these strikes faced violent repression, yet the union achieved significant victories in certain instances.

Fight Like Hell: The Testimony of Mother Jones

  • Notable Figure:

    • Mother Jones, coining the phrase “the most dangerous woman in America,” was a significant labor activist and advocate for workers’ rights.

  • Cultural Impact:

    • The production titled Fight Like Hell highlights her legacy and contributions to labor movements, showcasing her spirit and ongoing influence.

  • Quotes and Memorials:

    • “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!” exemplifies her advocacy and enduring spirit, as reflected in memorials such as the one erected by the Progressive Mineworkers of America in Mt. Olive, Illinois.

Recent Labor Movements

  • Trend Decline:

    • The UMWA, which saw growth from the 1930s to the 1970s, has faced significant decline in recent decades.

  • Recent Strikes:

    • Summer 2019: Non-union coal miners in Harlan County, Kentucky, blocking coal trains to demand back pay from the Blackjewel mining company.

    • April 1, 2021: 1,100 UMWA coal miners at Warrior Met Coal Inc. in Alabama initiating a nearly 2-year strike to advocate for enhanced wages, safety measures, healthcare, and various other issues.