Despite the early prosperity of the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills, the company was troubled by periods of labor unrest. A wage dispute resulted in a two-day strike in November 1885. A second five-day strike occurred in August 1897.

A lengthier strike took place between 1914-1915, triggered by management's disapproval of the growing efforts among the workers to join the United Textile Workers. The strike gained national notoriety when it drew the attention of the newly formed U.S. Commission on Industrial Relations but ultimately failed in May of that 1915.