Government and Unions Between 1880 and 1900 there were 20,000 strikes involving 6 million workersBetween 1880 and 1900 there were 20,000 strikes involving 6 million workers Government saw this as a disruption of the American economyGovernment saw this as a disruption of the American economy Supreme Court ruled that unions were illegal combinations in restraint of tradeSupreme Court ruled that unions were illegal combinations in restraint of trade