Labour Unions

• The HAymarket Riot: Violent confrontation between workers and the police at the McCormick’s factory 

  • 8-hour day was the demand down from 8-10 hr days 
  • Socialism of Europeans immigrants (Germany) 
  • Considered “militants” 
  • Bombs were thrown - 7 police officers killed 
  • Known # of demonstrators killed 
  • 8 “anarchists” were charged 
  • 4 hung, 1 suicide, 2 life sentences, 1-15 sentence 
  • “Rigged” trial 6 years later -all were proven innocent 
  • 3 remaining alive were pardoned 
• Desires to pass labor laws to create a set of “labor standards” for workers. Required legislative reform, but it was usually decided by the capitalists and government without a voice from the workers. Labour wanted an equal voice. 
• 19th century wanted to improve the standard of living for workers, establishment of a new right “the right to organize and bargain collectivity”. Unions give workers the right use a collective to bargain with a powerful employer 
• THe International Labour Organization formed in 1919. Part of the league of nations and the UN.
• During the 19th century, laborers who wanted to improve their standard of living began to attempt to form unions. A new right - the Right to organize and bargain collectively
• Unions could give workers the power to collectively negotiate fair wages and decent working conditions - all of which threatened to undermine the capitalist's control of the workplace.