The Pullman Palace Car Company was a railway company based out of the Pullman district of Chicago, Illinois. The owner was multimillionaire George Pullman, who operated a company town. The company forced all employees to pay the company for shelter and food, as well as other basic needs. The workers launched what an impromptu strike to protest wage reductions starting May 11. The local labor leaders then called upon Debs' American Railway Union to support the strike.