Pullman Strike of 1894
Location: Carson, Winnemucca, Wadsworth, Reno
Eugene V Debs! Many people don’t know the name, but he has the record for running for President of the United States. But in 1894 he was just someone that fought for the rights of the little man. Since 1877 the railroad workers had been accepting lower and lower wages. One of those places where that was happening was at the Pullman Factory. Pullman, Illinois (just outside of Chicago) was not only home to the factory, but also home of the company town. As the wages were being lowered, rent in Pullman remained that same. Although Pullman was a model community, it is estimated that renting in Pullman was 20% more expensive than renting in the nearby suburbs. The workers were getting restless. |
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Nearly 4,000 workers went on a wildcat strike on May 11th. But they gained nothing. In stepped Debs, the new president of the ARU (American Railway Union), who organized the workers. Still George Pullman would not accept arbitration. Debs realized that the strike against the plant was having little affect. He needed something more devastating. On June 20th Eugene Debs announced that on June 28th he would call for a boycott of ARU members. They would not work wherever there were Pullman cars.
Within four days of June 28th there were 125,000 railway workers on striking. But the strike quickly became violent. Federal troops and strikebreakers drove the striking workers and sympathizers to setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and wrecking railroad lines. $80,000,000, thirty dead, and three weeks later the strike ground to a halt.
Within four days of June 28th there were 125,000 railway workers on striking. But the strike quickly became violent. Federal troops and strikebreakers drove the striking workers and sympathizers to setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and wrecking railroad lines. $80,000,000, thirty dead, and three weeks later the strike ground to a halt.
