How had the American Railway Union's Great Northern Railway strike affected its role in the Pullman Strike?

The American Railway Union (ARU) gained significant national prominence and credibility following its successful strike against the Great Northern Railway Company in April 1894. This victory established the union's reputation for effectiveness, which directly influenced the Pullman Strike later that year.123

Because the ARU had recently proven its strength, Pullman workers—approximately one-third of whom were members—looked to the union and its president, Eugene V. Debs, for support when they walked off the job in May 1894. The success of the Great Northern action provided the organizational momentum and confidence necessary for the ARU to consider a broader, national-level response to the Pullman dispute. When the ARU eventually voted to initiate a boycott of Pullman cars in June 1894, the union's prior experience with industrial action served as a foundation for the strategy that ultimately tied up rail traffic across much of the United States.13