Today in Labor History—August 12

August 12, 1881 - The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners was founded. (From Workday Minnesota)

August 12, 1898 – Coal company guards killed seven and wounded 40 miners who were trying to stop scabs from taking their jobs in Virden, Illinois. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 12, 1933 – A General Strike brought down the Machado government in Cuba. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 12, 1936 -- The First International Brigades arrived in Spain to fight against Franco. (From the Daily Bleed)

British internationalistas' flag

Hungarian Internationalistas' flag

August 12, 1959 – Little Rock, Arkansas began to integrate two of its public schools, in response to a federal mandate, admitting a whopping six black students to two schools and even this was met with violence by segregationist mobs. (From the Daily Bleed)

The Little Rock 9 being escorted into Central High in 1957

August 12, 1978 – South Korean police stormed the YH Wig factory sit-in, arresting 180 and killing one. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 12, 1992 - The U.S., Canada and Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which took effect in January 1994. Since then, the U.S. has lost 3 million jobs, while wages in Mexico have plummeted. (From Workday Minnesota)