Union Violence - History

History

One of the historical problems in labor disputes was the inability of existing police forces to deploy enough trained personnel to perform necessary responsibilities. Corporations frequently turned to private agencies and guard services to fulfill their security needs. In 1866, a Pennsylvania law gave corporations the privilege of securing from the state government a commission for a watchman or policeman, who had the power to act on the corporation's property. The entity thus established was commonly referred to as the Coal and Iron Police. In 1894, United States Marshals and special guards, together with state and federal troops, assisted in putting down the Pullman Strike. In 1902, during the Anthracite strike, hundreds of commissions for the Coal and Iron Police were issued. But this is also when the concept of a state police force to deal with labor issues first saw fruition. However, for more than a century governors have continued to call out the militia, or the National Guard to deal with labor unrest. The army has also been used during labor disputes, including in situations where use of the National Guard proved inadequate (or disastrous, as in the Ludlow Strike).