When Lower Mills decided to reduce the salaries, many girls felt angry and resolved to strike in large numbers. The girls decided that it was important that they oppose any attempts to cut down their earnings. This was because their wages were not the only thing that was bringing them down in their line of work. They were protesting because of the terrible working conditions. The working hours were increased even though the wages were reduced and this was outrageous to the women. The women were supposed to report to work by eight in the morning and leave after seven in the evening. They, therefore, objected to the additional labor hours in the mill stating that it was oppressive. The housing that they were provided was congested and the women had no form of privacy at all. In addition to the reduction of the wages, the industry went ahead to increase the rent for the houses they offered the women. (Robinson, 1898)
Even before the strike of 1836, there was great dissatisfaction in the Lowell Mills and opposition amongst the workforce. This was mainly because women could be fired for any form of resistance in the industry. They were not allowed to air their grievances or provide any information on how to better their working conditions. Issues such as discontent with the salaries, breaking the rules, wrongdoings and other forms of revolt were punished by being fired from the job. The women’s strike was not only because of the reduction of their salaries. They were objecting to the oppressive set of laws that were imposed on them in the textile industry. The regulations that were put in place did not guarantee the rights of women and were continuously degrading women in such a way that they could not progress in life. (Tindall, & Emory, 2007)
The women felt that the wage reduction was not because of economic problems but rather a way of trying to enslave them and rob them of their freedom in society. They felt that they needed to be free people as it was advocated in the United States Declaration of Independence. This motivated them to strike to fight for their freedom and the rights of women as a whole. The women argued that they were collectively equal to the supervisors as well as to the mill owners. In this way, the reductions in wages affirmed they were subordinates to the owners, which made them slaves. They also went on strike because they needed to have some form of social life. According to the setting of their work, there was no time left for them to do anything else rather than work. They were only in contact with their fellow women living in the houses of the company with no contact with the outside world for a long time. (Tindall, & Emory, 2007)
The Lower Mills acted as a source of income for many young and adult women. Girls as young as ten were working in the mills with the same working hours as the older women. This was very hard for them as well as for the older women who were doing harder jobs. The reduction of wages was an unfair and unjust act to the women given the harsh conditions they had to endure. Their lifestyle was not attractive and they had to stay for many months without getting to the outside world. The Lowell Mills’ conditions of work were unfavorable to these girls and made them slaves to their work. However, their strikes in 1836 and 1843 contributed greatly to the betterment of the working conditions and rights of women over the following years.
References
Robinson, H. H. (1898) The Lowell Mill Girls Go on Strike, 1836, New York, T. Y. Crowell, Web.
Tindall, G. B., & Emory, D. (2007) America: A Narrative History. (Ed.) W.W. Norton & Company.