Due to wage reductions, high rental prices in the town, and George Pullman’s lack of empathy toward the workers of his company, employees decided to boycott against the unfairness and malfeasance of Pullman and other upper management.
Background
Wage Reductions
The Panic of 1893 created a massive depression in America which severely affected the workers wages and job security.
Wages decrease by approximately 33%; however, in many cases, people’s income was cut by 40 to 50%.
In less than a year Pullman had reduced their wages 5 times.
Wage reductions were manageable at the time but rental prices in the nearby town owned by George Pullman, did not decrease, which made housing unaffordable.
High Rental Prices
Although the income of railroad workers suffered an immense deduction, rents
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His attitude towards the workers only made the situation worse
On May 10th, some workers got laid off for “lack of work” and that night they unanimously voted to go on strike.
Conflict
The Strike
From May 11th to July 4th, 1894
The strike remained primarily peaceful until June when the workers realized it had been a month and they had made little progress and were only noticed by Chicago newspapers.
On June 12th the workers began meeting with members of the American Railway Union where they later decided to help and join the strike.
The day after the American Railway Union decided to join the strike, three members met with Wickes, the vice-president, to give him away out.
After he refused to deal with the American Railway Union, the Pullman strike became a national issue.
From that point on, on June 26th, the boycott began slowly but spread like wildfire.
Workers walked out of their jobs which became alarming to the public, the government, and the