What Were The Specific Tactics Employed By The Knights Of Labor In Their Efforts To Organize And Mobilize Workers In The Anthracite Coalfields Of Northeastern Pennsylvania During The Mid-1880s, And How Did These Strategies Intersect With Or Diverge From The Broader Goals Of The Great Upheaval Of 1886?
The Knights of Labor employed several specific tactics in organizing and mobilizing workers in the anthracite coalfields of northeastern Pennsylvania during the mid-1880s, which both intersected with and diverged from the broader goals of the Great Upheaval of 1886. These tactics included:
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Secret Meetings and Organizing: The Knights often organized secretly due to employer opposition, using coded messages and clandestine gatherings to recruit and mobilize workers.
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Inclusive Membership: They promoted solidarity across skill levels and ethnicities, which was unique for the time and helped build a stronger, more unified workforce.
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Strikes and Work Stoppages: The Knights used strikes to pressure employers for better wages and conditions. Notable examples include the 1885 strike in the coalfields.
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Negotiations and Arbitration: They often sought to negotiate with employers and used arbitration to resolve disputes, reflecting their preference for peaceful resolution.
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Boycotts and Sabotage: While less common, these tactics were employed to exert pressure on employers and disrupt non-union operations.
These strategies aligned with the Great Upheaval's broader goals of improving workers' conditions and challenging corporate power. The Knights' efforts in the coalfields contributed to the national labor movement, emphasizing unity and collective action. However, their focus on specific industries and tactics differed from the more generalized protests of the Upheaval. The Knights' influence waned post-1886, but their organizing efforts left a lasting impact on labor movements.