Lockout

Definition

A lockout is a labor dispute strategy used by employers to prevent employees from entering the workplace, typically during negotiations over labor contracts. This tactic is often employed to exert pressure on workers and unions by cutting off their access to jobs, pay, and benefits, effectively forcing them to accept the terms set forth by management. Lockouts were particularly common during the Gilded Age, reflecting the tense relationships between labor and management during a time of rapid industrialization and economic change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Lockouts were frequently used by companies to combat union organizing efforts and strikes during the Gilded Age.
2. Employers utilized lockouts as a way to maintain control over labor negotiations and avoid concessions that might arise from collective bargaining.
3. One of the most notable instances of a lockout occurred during the Homestead Strike of 1892 when Andrew Carnegie's steel plant locked out workers to break their union.
4. Lockouts often led to violent confrontations between laborers and security forces, illustrating the intense struggles of this era.
5. The use of lockouts contributed to the growing tensions between labor and management, which eventually spurred more organized labor movements and strikes.

Review Questions

• How did the strategy of lockouts impact labor relations during the Gilded Age?
  • Lockouts significantly strained labor relations during the Gilded Age by creating an environment of hostility between workers and employers. As companies resorted to locking out employees to force compliance with their terms, it heightened tensions and often led to violent clashes. This tactic not only disrupted workers' livelihoods but also galvanized unions and labor movements, leading to an increase in organized protests and demands for better working conditions.
• In what ways did lockouts serve as a response to strikes and collective bargaining efforts by workers?
  • Lockouts were used by employers primarily as a countermeasure against strikes and collective bargaining. When workers organized to demand better wages or conditions, management would lock them out to prevent access to their jobs and resources. This strategy aimed to weaken the resolve of striking workers while pushing them towards accepting unfavorable terms that would benefit the employer. The threat of economic hardship from a lockout served as a powerful deterrent against union actions.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of lockouts on labor movements in America beyond the Gilded Age.
  • The use of lockouts during the Gilded Age had lasting effects on labor movements in America that extended into the 20th century. These confrontations highlighted the need for stronger legal protections for workers and more structured labor laws. The violence and instability caused by lockouts often mobilized public opinion in favor of workers’ rights, leading to increased support for unions and ultimately contributing to significant reforms in labor legislation. The legacy of these conflicts also shaped future negotiations between labor and management, reinforcing the importance of dialogue and compromise.

Related terms

Strike: A work stoppage initiated by employees as a means of protest against employers, usually demanding better wages, working conditions, or other rights.

Collective Bargaining: The process through which workers, represented by unions, negotiate contracts with their employers regarding wages, hours, and working conditions.

Scab: A derogatory term for a worker who continues to work or takes the place of workers on strike, often used to undermine labor actions.