Labor organizations compared

@ Hostile to the concept of women working outside the home. Women were seen as defenseless and as a liability to the strength of the union. Capital would use women's weakness as a leverage against all workers. Did support equal pay following the premise that employers would not hire women if they had to pay them the same as men. Foreigners and Blacks not welcome in the ranks of the AFL. In the words of one Union leader, they were "beaten men of beaten races." Samuel Gompers was the powerful leader of the AFL and its President from 1886 until 1924. Sought higher wages, better working conditions and union recognition. Also championed the eight-hour day and child labor reform. Gompers opposed the creation of a worker's party and distrusted governmental reforms in the workplace. Look to your own organization and not to the government to defend your class interest. ( What the government gives it can also take away, he reasoned.) Advocated strikes if collective bargaining between labor and management failed. Sought legislation to restrict immigration in an effort to defend the American wage. Refused to ally with the Socialists. , but gradually gained legitimacy and Represented a minority of workers _ oice of American labor. influence. Was recognized as the v Stll around today. Industrial Unionism -- The Industrial Workers of the World -- The TWW Manifesto of the IWW written in 1908 begins with the declaration, "The working class and the employing class have nothing in common." Believed that the capitalist system could never be reformed, it must be overthrown. Sought to organize all workers into one big union in order to build solidarity for the general strike that would overthrow capitalism. All men and women who worked for wages were welcome, regardless of race or skill. Fought for better hours, wages and working conditions. Egalitarian and anti-authoritarian, the TWW preferred on-the-job action: sabotage, slowdowns, free-speech fights and strikes. Formed by Big Bill Haywood (of the Western Federation of Miners), Eugene Debs (Socialist candidate for President in the early 19th Century) and Daniel DeLeon, also a socialist. ' Gained a reputation for violence, but actions were primarily non-violent. Active in the East and West, but greatest impact was in the West among miners and itinerant agricultural, timber-and dock workers. "Wobblies" famous for its "Little Red -Songbook” -- and the IWW became known as a singing organization. The melodies of famous hymns and anthems were adopted with new words written to inspire worker solidarity. Federal and state governments launched a fierce campaign against the IWW: and in WWI its leadership was shattered by sedition convictions.