Pullman strike

The events that took place on May 11, 1894 led to the first and most famous strike in our nations history. The Pullman Palace Car Company owned all of the housing and stores in the town of Pullman. The company also supplied the entire town with jobs. Because of this, all of the money that company spent on its employees, they would make right back when the employees bought food for their families. The company profited off the employees as well. Water was bought from Chicago for four cents per 1,000 gallons and sold it to the residents of Pullman for 10 cents per 1,000 gallons. The entire town of Pullman, Illinois was a business to the Pullman Palace Car Company. In 1893, the company cut the wages of all of the employees by one fourth, however the prices of everything else in the town remained the same. This was the cause of the famous strike. This strike was very important and needed to happen. One company should not be able to force so many Americans into horrible living conditions. Not only did this strike help the citizens of Pullman, but it also sent a message to many other capitals in the U.S. This proved that an organized strike against a company can improve the conditions of the employees, or in this case, send the employer to jail. Workers stopped allowing their employers to control them though fear of their pay. Strikes are an important option and resource in our labor system. They should not be overused, but when necessary, they can be successful. While being a worker in America, it is important to remember that with the organization of a union, there is no need to fear the company that employs you.


"Pullman strike." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. .