How and why it happened
This is a sign that was made that says 8 hours of labor,8 hours recreation,8 hours rest
By 1877, 3 million people were unemployed
or losing their jobs - an astounding 27 percent of the working population. The
PA railroad began slashing wages, first 10 percent at
the beginning of the
year, then another 10 percent was added in June. They laid off workers,
cut wages, and then announced they would increase their eastbound trains to
Pittsburgh without hiring more crew. Furious workers took control of the switches and blocked the trains, igniting the madness. Around the same time, the Baltimore & Ohio cut wages, and reduced work weeks. On July 16, Brakemen
and Fireman stopped working.
or losing their jobs - an astounding 27 percent of the working population. The
PA railroad began slashing wages, first 10 percent at
the beginning of the
year, then another 10 percent was added in June. They laid off workers,
cut wages, and then announced they would increase their eastbound trains to
Pittsburgh without hiring more crew. Furious workers took control of the switches and blocked the trains, igniting the madness. Around the same time, the Baltimore & Ohio cut wages, and reduced work weeks. On July 16, Brakemen
and Fireman stopped working.