Settlers - San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center

5. The Contradictions of White Labor
The issue of a shorter work day spread enthusiastically
among the white workers between 1866 and
1873. During these years the Eight-Hour Day struggle held
first place in the activities of white labor. With considerable
foresight, the leaders of the National Labor
Union had seen the need for such a single issue to unite and
discipline their immature followers. At the founding Convention
of the N.L.U. in Baltimore, on August 20, 1866,
the call was sent forth for all white workingmen in every
region, trade and industry to combine on this one front:
". . . the firsr and great necessity of the present to free the
labor of this country from capitalistic slavery is the passing
of a law by which eight hours shall be the normal working
day in aN states of the American union. "(52)
Throughout the '60s and early '70s the Eight-Hour
Day Movement grew, with immigrant German socialists
playing a leading role in organizing "Eight Hour Leagues"
in all the major cities of the Empire.(53) Literally millions
took part in the strikes, parades and rallies. By 1868 six
states, led by California, a number of cities, and the
Federal government had passed Eight-Hour Day laws (the
last only applying to Federal employees). In 1872, when
the New York City building trades won a three-month
strike for the Eight-Hour Day, a festive parade of 150,000
white workmen took over the main streets of the city.(54)
But this campaign folded like wet cardboard during
the Depression of 1873-78, when it turned out that the
capitalists had no intention of honoring any promises, 45
agreements or laws. The white trade-unionists found their
hours of toil increasing while their pay was steadily slashed.
Not until the C.I.O. and New Deal in the 1930's would
white workers attain their goal of the Eight-Hour Day.
Defeat, however, is not the same thing as failure;
the Eight-Hour campaign was a success for white labor. It
was a new stage of unity, the first, Empire-wide, coast-tocoast
political campaign. As such it marked the historic
point where the swelling settler masses emerged upwards
from their earlier, pre-industrial, small craft consciousness-and
entered the industrial age.
That campaign was the first time white labor actually
achieved a broad, national unity in action. This was
evident at the time. Alexander Kennady, head of the San
Francisco Trades Assembly and a leader of both the Eight-
Hour campaign and the National Labor Union, said:
"...By far the most important result of this eight hour
agitation-to those who look forward to the day when
labor, organized and effectively drilled, shall assume its
legitimate sphere in the body politic-is visible in the
marked improvement in the character of the men engaged
in the movement. A few years ago the working population
of California were in a chaotic state-disorganized, and at
the mercy of the capitalists-with very rare exceptions. Today,
nearly every branch of skilled industry has its own
union, fixing its own rate of wages, and regulating its
domestic differences. A spirit of independence, and a feeling
of mutual confidence inspire its members.. . "(55)