The Pullman Strike of 1894

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The Pullman Strike of 1894 was a pivotal event in U.S. labor history, lasting from May 11 to July 20. It began when nearly 4,000 workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike due to significant wage cuts without corresponding reductions in rent or living costs in the company town of Pullman. Led by Eugene V. Debs, the American Railway Union (ARU) supported the strike by launching a nationwide boycott of trains carrying Pullman cars, involving over 125,000 workers across 29 railroads. This boycott severely disrupted rail traffic, particularly west of Chicago. The strike ended with federal intervention, including the deployment of U.S. troops, resulting in violence and the deaths of several workers. The aftermath saw Eugene Debs arrested and convicted for violating a federal injunction. The strike's impact was significant, contributing to the establishment of Labor Day as a national holiday in September 1894. President Gro