Strikes on the Railroad Chinese Laborers in America

Rise of the First American Unions

The rise of American unions can be traced back to the early days of the republic. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, labor disputes were common, as workers sought to secure better wages and working conditions (Hannan & Freeman, 1988). In some cases, these disputes turned violent, as in the 1834 riots in Philadelphia. As the country began to industrialize in the mid-19th century, workers found themselves competing for jobs with machines, and they began to organize themselves into unions in order to have more bargaining power. Union membership grew steadily throughout the 19th century, culminating in the formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1886. This new federation brought together a number of different unions, and it quickly became one of the most powerful labor organizations in the country. The AFL would play a major role in securing better wages and working conditions for American workers throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The 19th century was a time of great change in America. Rapid industrialization led to the rise of big cities and the growth of the factory system. This in turn led to a dramatic increase in the number of workers employed in industry. However, these workers had few rights and were subjected to long hours, low wages, and dangerous working conditions. As factory work became more widespread, workers began to organize and demand better treatment. The labor movement gained momentum in the late 19th century, and workers slowly began to win improved working conditions and higher wages. Nevertheless, it would take many more years of struggle before workers would achieve full equality.

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded in 1886 as a coalition of craft unions (Gildemeister, 1988). The organization was created in response to the growing power of industrial bosses and the decline of power of craft workers. The AFL\'s primary goal was to protect the interests of workers through collective bargaining and to improve working conditions. The organization also advocated for social and economic reform, including an eight-hour work day, minimum wage laws, and worker\'s compensation. In addition, the AFL worked to promote unity among workers and to end discrimination based on race, nationality, or religion. By the early 20th century, the AFL had become one of the most powerful labor organizations in the United States. Today, it continues to fight for the rights of workers and is an important voice in the labor movement.

Not all labor unions were equal. For instance, in 1867, there was only one union that accepted black workers and female workers as members—the National Union for Cigar Makers (NUCM) (Sandroff, 2022). This act of inclusion was significant both for the cigar industry and for the labor movement more broadly. The cigar industry had long relied on low-wage Black and female labor, and the NUCM\'s decision to welcome these workers signaled a new commitment to equality in the workplace. Furthermore, the NUCM\'s acceptance of Black and female members helped to pave the way for other unions to follow suit, ultimately leading to a more inclusive labor movement. The NUCM\'s decision to include all workers, regardless of race or gender, remains an important milestone in the history of organized labor.

Still, others were not so lucky. The Chinese laborers on the railroad tried to strike in 1867 in order to secure equal pay with white workers. Their strike was unsuccessful, however, and later strikes were not much better. There was a lot of prejudice against Chinese laborers at the time, and it was not until Eugene Debs, as head of American Railway Union in the 1894 strike, that it seemed some change might come. Debs tried to convince Union members to accept black workers as members, but he was unsuccessful. As a result, many black workers ended up acting as strikebreakers, defeating the Union’s strike in turn (Sandroff, 2022).

Eugene Debs was a leading figure in the American labor movement. He was also a three-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855, Debs began his career as a locomotive fireman and later became active in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. In 1893, he helped to establish the American Railway Union (ARU), one of the first nationwide unions in the United States. The ARU soon became embroiled in a bitter dispute with the Pullman Palace Car Company, and in 1894, Debs led a nationwide strike against the company (Sandroff, 2022). The strike was eventually crushed by government troops, and Debs was sentenced to six months in prison. Upon his release, he helped to founded the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a radical union that advocated for direct action and workplace democracy. Throughout his life, Debs remained an outspoken advocate for workers\' rights and socialism, earning him a reputation as one of America\'s most important labor leaders.