STRIKEBREAKING AND THE LABOR-MARKET IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1881-1894

Using data from a sample of over 2,000 individual strikes in the Unite d States from 1881 to 1894 this article examines geographic, industria l, and temporal variations in the use of strikebreakers and the source s from which they were recruited. The use of strikebreakers was not co rrelated with the business cycle and did not vary appreciably by regio n or city size, but employers located outside the Northeast or in smal ler cities were more likely to use replacement workers recruited from other places. The use of strikebreakers also varied considerably acros s industries, and was affected by union authorization and strike size.