Throughout history labor unions have been and are debated. The labor unions versus capitalism are a major subject matter that has separated our country into two separate political parties. Whether, unions are practical and mandatory for our economy, or just another conflict added to the list of problems our country already has. Although, the general opinion of part of today’s labor unions have become redundant and can eventually be risky, labor unions of the Glided Age were necessary. Providing evidence of merits, personal bias, and political views to support the idea of the unsafe and unfair working conditions during this era. During the Glided Age industries were booming and along with that came competitors. Companies were constantly finding alternative ways to beat their competition, and ways to save every bit of money they could. This meant cutting of pay and poor working conditions. However, the drastic measures taken by the owners seemed harmless, it took a toll on the workers. Workers were pushed to take precautionary measures against their bosses to fight for what was fair, thus the forming of labor unions. “At issues was the right of workers to organize and to speak through unions, to bargain collectively, and to fight for better working conditions, higher wages, shorter hours, and greater worker control in the face of increased mechanization.” (529) In the time of this happening the situation became violent.
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Worker felt that the whole situation was unfair, so in hope of obtaining justice they began to strike. Strikes were starting to break out frequently, so businesses took precautionary measures of their own hiring strikebreakers to break up the conflict. Many businesses and their owners assumed that the workers would eventually come to their senses. Eventually workers would get hungry, they will have to support their families somehow, and they need a job to economically survive. So many business waited around for workers to come back. The Pullman Strike is a sufficient example of how businesses would wait around and see workers slowly suffering from the conflict. “We are not desperate today, because we are not hungry, and our wives and children are not begging for bread. But George M. Pullman, who ran away from the public opinion that has arisen against him, like the genie from the bottle in the Arabian Nights, is not feeding us. He is patiently seated beside his millions waiting for what? To see us starve.” (236) Many people supported the unions, agreeing that work conditions were poorly attributed and the cutting of wages were unfair. A labor leader well known is Samuel Gompers. Known for supporting the labor unions and fighting for their rights. Samuel Gompers stated in a letter sent to judge Peter Grosscup, who issued an injunction on the president of the American Railroad Union. “You say that, as you stated in your charge to the grand jury, you believe in labor organizations within such lawful and reasonable limits as will make them a servicing to the laboring man and not a menace to the lawful institutions of the country. I have had the pleasure of reading your charge to the grand jury, and have only partially been able discover how far you believe in labor organizations.” (60) But no everyone was
Worker felt that the whole situation was unfair, so in hope of obtaining justice they began to strike. Strikes were starting to break out frequently, so businesses took precautionary measures of their own hiring strikebreakers to break up the conflict. Many businesses and their owners assumed that the workers would eventually come to their senses. Eventually workers would get hungry, they will have to support their families somehow, and they need a job to economically survive. So many business waited around for workers to come back. The Pullman Strike is a sufficient example of how businesses would wait around and see workers slowly suffering from the conflict. “We are not desperate today, because we are not hungry, and our wives and children are not begging for bread. But George M. Pullman, who ran away from the public opinion that has arisen against him, like the genie from the bottle in the Arabian Nights, is not feeding us. He is patiently seated beside his millions waiting for what? To see us starve.” (236) Many people supported the unions, agreeing that work conditions were poorly attributed and the cutting of wages were unfair. A labor leader well known is Samuel Gompers. Known for supporting the labor unions and fighting for their rights. Samuel Gompers stated in a letter sent to judge Peter Grosscup, who issued an injunction on the president of the American Railroad Union. “You say that, as you stated in your charge to the grand jury, you believe in labor organizations within such lawful and reasonable limits as will make them a servicing to the laboring man and not a menace to the lawful institutions of the country. I have had the pleasure of reading your charge to the grand jury, and have only partially been able discover how far you believe in labor organizations.” (60) But no everyone was