Momentum Of the Labor Movement
After the strike, the labor movement gained momentum and advanced rapidly, in part due to the increased awareness of its goals.
Inspired Workers- Short term Effect
"I do not like to walk up there and hand up my membership in the American Railway Union because when a man asks me to give up my principles, my rights as an American citizen, he might just as well ask for my life."
~ Theodore Rhodie |
"The strike we have just passed through will be a benefit to the laboring men of the country for years to come. It will demonstrate to the laboring men that they must get together, that no single organization can win."
~ George P. Lovejoy |
This shows that the workers and people affected by the Pullman Strike became convinced that unionizing was important demonstrating that the strike inspired the workers and gave the labor movement momentum. [Huffman]
Socialist party Created- Short Term Effect
"... the lives of American workers would never improve, unless they controlled governmental power through their strength of numbers in elections." ~Eugene V. Debs
Having turned Socialist as a result of the Pullman Strike, Debs became an important political leader in the development of the Socialist Party. [Rohde]
"In this way the working class is divided against itself; those with jobs and those without are separated by resentment and fear. Workers have the right to form unions freely, and to strike and engage in other forms of job actions." ~ Socialist Party USA
Also seen in "The Worker’s May-Pole" and "A Garland for May-Day," the public supported these positions, and had a positive opinion towards this party, demonstrating that the Pullman Strike affected the populace's attitude concerning workers' rights. [Lillitenthal, Iverson]
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"My first step was thus taken in organized labor and a new influence fired my ambition and changed the whole current of my career. I was filled with enthusiasm and my blood fairly leaped in my veins. Day and night I worked for the brotherhood. To see its watchfires glow and observe the increase of its sturdy members were the sunshine and shower of my life. To attend the “meeting’ was my supreme joy, and for ten years I was not once absent when the faithful assembled." ~ Eugene V. Debs about the formation of the Socialist Party
With the formation of this party, the labor movement gained momentum because they now had a political advocate for everything it stood for. However, the success of the Socialist Party was short-lived as they failed in gaining a position of power within the U.S. [Socialist Party USA, Herrnson, Fitts, Debs]
Labor Day Created- short Term Effect
"... a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."
~ U.S. Department of Labor Labor Day was created 6 days after the Pullman Strike by President Cleveland to pacify upset unions and workers. This created momentum for the labor movement because Labor Day honored the unions' fight for better workers' rights and is a celebration of all workers.
Currently, people want to abolish this as a holiday because of its ties to an anti-labor president. Marked only as the end of summer, the real purpose of labor day is now forgotten. [Hollandbeck, U.S. Department of Labor] Labor Day is the national equivalent of May Day. Songs are sung on May Day with a common theme of the improvement of workers rights. [Marxists]
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Banners depicting pro-union slogans have made appearances since the start of this holiday.
Performed by Olivia Donofrio, Bianca Saputra, Molly Ward and Sarah Yamaguchi.
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Union Growth- Long Term effect
Graph courtesy of Claude Fisher
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"Nothing herein shall prohibit any individual employed as a supervisor from becoming or remaining a member of a labor organization, but no employer subject to this Act shall be compelled to deem individuals defined herein as supervisors as employees for the purpose of any law, either national or local, relating to collective bargaining." ~ Wagner Act of 1935
By 1905, union membership had increased 10 percent, and 20 percent during the year 1940 due to the passing of the Wagner Act of 1935.
Note: Red dot signifies approximate date of Pullman Strike. |
"It is now beyond partisan controversy that it is a fundamental individual right of a worker to associate himself with other workers and to bargain collectively with his employer." ~ FDR's address at San Diego Exposition, October 2, 1935.
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"I believe in unions. ... Unions put their shoulder behind the wheel, and made life better for working people when they were being taken advantage of. And even today, even if you're not in a union, you're still benefiting from the fact that there's a union out there putting pressure on employers to do the right thing."
~ Barack Obama's remark at a Town Hall in Youngstown, Ohio, August 5, 2008 |
Since the act, workers are encouraged to unionize and many presidents have been pro-labor. Currently, there are nearly 7.2 million people who are union members, proving that the labor movement had made an impression on the working class. [Fisher]