The Pullman strike
On May 10, 1894, the workers at the PPCC voted to go on strike in response to reduced wages and the laying-off of workers who had tried to negotiate higher wages. The next day, workers shut down operations and enlisted Eugene V. Debs for help in accomplishing their objective of higher pay and increased workers' rights. In order to gain more attention from the American Railway Union (ARU), Debs arranged for their first national convention to meet in Chicago. [Bassett, Brendel, Lindsey]
In early June, it became accepted that the PPCC was unwilling to arbitrate with workers. As a result, the ARU implemented a national boycott of Pullman cars and ordered to "keep the mail moving and the Pullman cars sitting on the sidetrack." [Davis, Altman]
In early June, it became accepted that the PPCC was unwilling to arbitrate with workers. As a result, the ARU implemented a national boycott of Pullman cars and ordered to "keep the mail moving and the Pullman cars sitting on the sidetrack." [Davis, Altman]
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The boycott encouraged the strikers, and participation in the strike increased to about 50,000 workers. Workers became so united that "if a worker was fired for honoring the boycott, every union man in that yard would walk off the job." However, during what was intended to be a peaceful rally to gain support for the strike, the crowd grew violent, "derailing a locomotive, destroying the yards and setting fire to anything that moved." [Chicago Tribune, Altman]
Due to the violence, a federal injunction was issued on July 2nd to give federal troops the ability to become involved in the strike if mail delivery was hindered. Angered, the crowd started "dragging baggage cars across the tracks; thereby, obstructing the passage of mail." As a result, federal troops moved into Chicago to restore order. Debs and three other organizers were arrested on July 10 for interfering with the delivery of U.S. mail. [Warne] When the strike ended on July 11, most employees returned to their jobs blacklisted, and with reduced wages. [Cawardine]
Due to the violence, a federal injunction was issued on July 2nd to give federal troops the ability to become involved in the strike if mail delivery was hindered. Angered, the crowd started "dragging baggage cars across the tracks; thereby, obstructing the passage of mail." As a result, federal troops moved into Chicago to restore order. Debs and three other organizers were arrested on July 10 for interfering with the delivery of U.S. mail. [Warne] When the strike ended on July 11, most employees returned to their jobs blacklisted, and with reduced wages. [Cawardine]