What was a significant outcome of the 1886 Haymarket incident for labor unions?

The Haymarket incident of 1886, which began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour workday, turned violent when a bomb was thrown at the police, leading to chaos and numerous deaths. This event had significant repercussions for the labor movement. Following the Haymarket affair, public perception of labor unions deteriorated sharply. The incident was used by opponents of labor movements to paint unions as violent and radical, resulting in heightened tensions and distrust towards labor organizations.

The negative publicity surrounding the Haymarket incident created a climate of fear and suspicion about labor activism, which led many people to distance themselves from unions. This decline in support was detrimental to labor unions and resulted in increased resistance from both the government and business owners to union activities. As a result, the Haymarket incident is often viewed as a pivotal moment that receded labor's progress during that era instead of advancing it.