Britannica Sources used in this answer

How many railroad workers joined the Pullman Strike and boycott?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

shantytown in Chicago — Pullman Strike A shantytown on the lakefront in Chicago during the Pullman Strike and general economic downturn of 1893–94.

During the Pullman Strike and subsequent boycott of 1894, estimates indicate that between 125,000 and 250,000 railroad workers across 27 states joined the cause in solidarity with the Pullman Palace Car Company employees.1

The movement grew rapidly as the boycott expanded:
* By June 27, approximately 5,000 workers had left their jobs.2
* By June 28, that number rose to 40,000.2
* By the third day of the boycott, the number of strikers reached 100,000.2
* By June 30, the total reached 125,000 workers across 29 railroads.2

Ultimately, the widespread participation of these workers effectively stifled the national rail network west of Chicago, demonstrating the significant influence of the American Railway Union and the broader labour movement at the time.12