HM5 - The Worker Monopoly
Abstract
The Worker Monopoly covers South Carolina history of mill villages, and how per-existing circumstances made it near impossible for any successful worker organizations or strikes. The time period covered spans from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. Specifically, it seeks to answer why mill village history is seldom taught, what were mill workers conditions, why workers settled in the mill villages, and why the worker strikes that took place in the South Carolina textile industry were overall unsuccessful. In addition, it covers how mill villages were organized; how the culture between mill owners and or management led to mill strikes, and why the previous led to the failure of the mill strikes. It indulges in the ideas of paternalistic relationships between owners and their workers. It covers the dangers and hazards faced by workers and then finally how the total control held by mill owners and management did not allow for the ability to bargain for better conditions. This presentation draws upon sources from the Greenville Library's archives, Piedmont Historical Society's collections, USC Upstate oral interviews, and various online sources. Overall, this presentation largely draws on the Piedmont mill, Spartanburg Mills, and the Honea path mills. The reason the research matters is because it is largely unresearched topic, paints a clear view of why workers tolerate poor conditions, and how the control mill owners of the late 1800s and early 1900s had via their wealth allowed them to create a system separating workers from the state and no ability to bargain for better conditions. Furthermore, the story matters because these were hardships faced by locals' grandparents, and great grandparents- keeping the effects extremely relevant to the positions residents find themselves in currently.
HM5 - The Worker Monopoly
CASB 104
The Worker Monopoly covers South Carolina history of mill villages, and how per-existing circumstances made it near impossible for any successful worker organizations or strikes. The time period covered spans from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. Specifically, it seeks to answer why mill village history is seldom taught, what were mill workers conditions, why workers settled in the mill villages, and why the worker strikes that took place in the South Carolina textile industry were overall unsuccessful. In addition, it covers how mill villages were organized; how the culture between mill owners and or management led to mill strikes, and why the previous led to the failure of the mill strikes. It indulges in the ideas of paternalistic relationships between owners and their workers. It covers the dangers and hazards faced by workers and then finally how the total control held by mill owners and management did not allow for the ability to bargain for better conditions. This presentation draws upon sources from the Greenville Library's archives, Piedmont Historical Society's collections, USC Upstate oral interviews, and various online sources. Overall, this presentation largely draws on the Piedmont mill, Spartanburg Mills, and the Honea path mills. The reason the research matters is because it is largely unresearched topic, paints a clear view of why workers tolerate poor conditions, and how the control mill owners of the late 1800s and early 1900s had via their wealth allowed them to create a system separating workers from the state and no ability to bargain for better conditions. Furthermore, the story matters because these were hardships faced by locals' grandparents, and great grandparents- keeping the effects extremely relevant to the positions residents find themselves in currently.