30,000 Locked Out

Chicago's building trades dispute of 1887 becomes an argument about who controls the workplace in James C. Beeks's account. He describes a strike and lockout affecting thousands of workers, employers and unfinished buildings, then explains disagreements over wages, union membership and the choice of payday. His introduction frames the conflict around individual liberty and defends an employer's right to select workers and direct a business.

The account combines forceful commentary with organizational records, including delegates' names and the stated aims of the National Association of Builders. Later passages examine union rules governing apprentices, foremen and representatives who could interrupt work. Beeks criticizes these restrictions as an excessive transfer of authority to the union. For readers interested in American labor history, the book offers a close look at the language and rules through which building employers presented their position during a major Chicago dispute.