20th Century
Shen
Early Labor Unions
PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Adopted January 3, 1878
The recent alarming development and aggression of aggregated wealth, which, unless checked, will inevitably lead to the
pauperization and hopeless degradation of the toiling masses, render it imperative, if we desire to enjoy the blessings of life, that a
check should be placed upon its power and upon unjust accumulation, and a system adopted which will secure to the laborer the
fruits of his toil; and as this much-desired object can only be accomplished by the thorough unification of labor, … with a view of
securing the organization and direction, by co-operative effort, of the power of the industrial classes; and we submit to the world
the objects sought to be accomplished by our organization, calling upon all who believe in securing "the greatest good to the
greatest number" to aid and assist us:
II. To secure to the toilers a proper share of the wealth that they create; more of the leisure that rightfully belongs to them; more
societary advantages; more of the benefits, privileges and emoluments of the world; in a word, all those rights and privileges
necessary to make them capable of enjoying, appreciating, defending and perpetuating the blessings of good government.
IV. The establishment of co-operative institutions, productive and distributive.
VI. The abrogation of all laws that do not bear equally upon capital and labor, the removal of unjust technicalities, delays and
discriminations in the administration of justice, and the adopting of measures providing for the health and safety of those engaged
in mining, manufacturing or building pursuits.
VII. The enactment of laws to compel chartered corporations to pay their employe[e]s weekly, in full, for labor performed during
the preceding week, in the lawful money of the country.
X. The substitution of arbitration for strikes, whenever and wherever employers and employe[e]s are willing to meet on equitable
grounds.
XI. The prohibition of the employment of children in workshops, mines and factories before attaining their fourteenth year.
XIII. To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work.
XIV. The reduction of the hours of labor to eight per day, so that the laborers may have more time for social enjoyment and
intellectual improvement, and be enabled to reap the advantages conferred by the labor-saving machinery which their brains have
created.
Source: Terence V. Powderly, Thirty Years of Labor, 1859 to 1889 (Philadelphia, 1890), 128-130.
Reading Questions:
1. What does Powderly think are the benefits of a union?
2. What reforms are necessary and why?
Knights of Labor (1869)
I. Socialist vision
II. All workers in one big union (women, men, blacks, whites, foreign, American, skilled, unskilled)
a. Help workers share the wealth they create – tried cooperatives
b. 8 hour work day
III. Frowned on strikes – preferred arbitration (WHY?)
IV. Decline
a. Message to broad – included too many opposing groups
b. Noble effort to unite workers but not very realistic
c. Public opposition to unions grew as they were seen as violent and anarchist even though that was
not entirely true, prompted more skilled craftsmen to leave and move to AFL
d. Membership fell from a high of 700,000 in 1886 to 100,000 by 1890 and continued to decline
thereafter. Membership had dwindled to 17,000 by 1895. 
American Federation of Labor (1886)
I. Feeling is that improvement of conditions for specific groups of workers is more important than
joining all workers together
II. AFL actively kept unskilled workers out (African-Americans as well)
III. Not one union – many unions, organize workers by trade
IV. AFL supported:
i. “Bread-and-butter” unionism: issues like wages and working conditions
ii. Collective bargaining for each union (each could call strikes & manage own affairs)
iii. 8 hour work day, 5 or 6 day work week
iv. Employer _________________ (compensation for family members if a relative got hurt on the job)
v. Safety reforms and better conditions overall
V. AFL supported whichever political party supported their interests
VI. Gained members slowly (500,000 by 1900)
VII. Samuel Gompers was the leader of union from 1886-1924. Under his leadership, the AFL avoided radical
politics and focused on bread-and-butter issues. Gompers tried to shed the radical image that employers tried
to pin on labor and show that workers wanted what everyone else wanted: a better life, good wages, good
working conditions, and time to improve themselves.
In spite of Gompers’ efforts to shed labor unions’ negative image, labor unions were largely unsuccessful in
attaining the majority of their goals in the Industrial Era. Why?
I. Obstacles to unions
a. Businesses, banks, and the government supported one-another, kept workers from organizing
a. Workers could not all speak the same language (immigrants, etc) – difficult to organize
b. Most workers were concerned with keeping their jobs (rather than fighting for better wages and conditions.)
However, as times got tougher, unions began to take hold
II. Membership increasing but still constituted a very small percentage of workforce – why?
a. Public opinion went against idea of a closed shop (union only employees)
b. Most Americans thought employers had the right to hire and fire and equated unions with radical
movements – WHY?
III. Industry/business was against unions and public opinion also opposed unions
a. Business owners were vs. unions for monetary reasons
b. Methods of fighting unions
i. hired lawyers to fight in court
ii. hired lobbyists to influence lawmakers (gave money to candidates)
iii. developed “_______________________”
iv. made workers sign “yellow dog contracts” – MEANING?
v. lockouts (lock out striking workers and bring in scabs)
vi. use strong arm tactics to incite violence – call in strikebreakers like the Pinkertons in order to have
an excuse to bring in state or federal forces
c. Federal support of industry - presidents would sometimes send in federal troops to break strikes
d. Courts supported industry
i. Used Sherman Anti-Trust act to order end of strikes - DEFINE:
1. Why was the Act ultimately unsuccessful?
2. How did businesses manipulate the act to their benefit?
3. Businesses were then able to use the Act meant to keep them in line to keep unions from
affecting their business – supported by the courts, federal government, and public opinion
IV. All of these factors kept unions from being a major force for labor for a long time