1910s

• In 1916, the WFM became the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelt Workers. Eventually absorbed by United Steelworks of America.
• Clayton Act of 1914 established the Congressional principle that ‘the labour of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce’. However judicial interpretation weakened this.
• State Legislation 1912-18

  • 36 states adopted principle of workmen’s compensation for all industrial accidents
  • Several states required one days rest out of the seven
  • Several states began maximising limits on the working day and making minimum wage laws for women.
• Colorado Coalfield War

  • In 1913, the United Mine Workers of America declared a strike against Colorado Fuel and Iron
  • About 10,000 striked
  • The following Ludlow Massacre in 1914 saw 25 dead, 11 of which were children
  • After massacre, strikers took control over a mass of land, where 50 died
  • After fed troops dealt with strikers, the UMWA gained 4000 members
• By WW1, union membership was at 2 million, however only represented 20% of non-agricultural workforce.
• During the war, employers hired through contracts rather than permanently. That was workers could be laid off at any time. Additionally, there were still large numbers of accidents and the courts considered such injuries the risk the employee had to take.
• National War Labour Board

  • Appointed by President Wilson
  • Working hours reduced to 8
  • Equal pay for women
  • Right to organise unions and bargain collectively
  • Workers agreed to a no-strike policy
  • Gompers supported such policies of Wilson’s
• Union membership almost doubled after the National War Labour Board was formed.
• In 1919, the AFL tried to get rights gained during war to be permanent so there was a series of strikes. The management counterattacked and blamed as communists. Strikes failed and the power of unions fell to prewar conditions.
• Coal Strike of 1919

  • United Miner Workers called for a strike against soft coal fields
  • Wanted to make wartime gains permanent
  • A wartime measure, the Lever Act was invoked, making it a crime to interfere with production its transportation
  • The coal operators called strikers communists
  • The call for the strike was withdrawn
• Women’s strike of 1919

  • President of Boston Telephone Operators Union asked for higher wages as they averaged a 1/3 less than women in manufacturing
  • 9,000 women went on strike
  • College students hired as strikebreakers but were attacked by the men supporting the strikers
  • Higher wages given after a few days