The American Railway Union

The American Railway Union (ARU) was a major labor organization founded in 1893, led by Eugene V. Debs. It aimed to unify all railway workers across different companies to improve working conditions, wages, and hours. The ARU was notable for advocating for industrial unionism, meaning it sought to organize all workers within an industry rather than by specific trades. Its most famous action was the 1894 Pullman Strike, which protested wage cuts and high living costs in company-owned housing, leading to a nationwide strike that challenged railroad operations and federal authority.