Today in Labor History—June 3

June 3, 1900 - The International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was founded. (From Workday Minnesota)

June 3, 1901 – Carpenters struck for higher wages & union recognition in Ottawa, Canada. (From the Daily Bleed)

 June 3, 1910—The Francisco Ferrer Association was founded in Harlem, by supporters of the educator who had been executed by the Spanish government the year before. The organization’s goals included founding libertarian schools throughout the U.S. based on the principals of Francisco Ferrer.

June 3, 1918 - A federal child labor law that had been enacted in 1916 was declared unconstitutional. A new version was enacted on February 24, 1919, but was also later declared unconstitutional. It was not until the 1930s that child labor provisions were enacted as part of sweeping labor law reforms, though exploitation of children continues to be a problem in the United States today). (From Workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—February 15, 2012

1910 Photo of Some of the Strike Participants

February 15, 1910 – “The Uprising of the Twenty Thousand," International Ladies' Garment Workers Union Shirtwaist strike that began September 27 was declared officially over on this date by the ILGWU. By this date, 339 manufacturing firms had reached agreements with the union. 13 firms, including Triangle Shirtwaist Company did not settle. One of the demands of the demands had been for adequate fire escapes and for open doors to the streets for emergencies. In 1911, 146 girls and women were killed in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 15, 1950 – The CIO expelled the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, the Food, Tobacco and Agricultural Workers, and the United Office and Professional Workers for “communist tendencies.” (From the Daily Bleed)

February 15, 2003 - 25 million people demonstrated against President George W. Bush’s plan to go to war in Iraq, making it the largest coordinated protest in history. Demonstrations took place in over 100 countries. (From workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—December 6

December 6, 1810 – Miguel Hidalgo abolished slavery in Mexico. (From theDaily Bleed)

Colored National Labor Convention, Harpers 1869 (pub. dom.)

December 6, 1865 – The U.S., always the backwards, 3^rd world nation, followed Mexico’s lead 55 years later by ratifying the 13th amendment and abolishing [chattel] slavery. Prisoners could (and can still) be forced to work without wages, while all workers were (and still are) subject to wage slavery. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 6, 1869 – The first national black labor group, the Colored National Labor Convention, met for the first time in Washington, DC. Roughly 214 delegates attended, sending a petition to Congress requesting direct intervention in the South by subdividing the public lands into forty-acre farms and providing low-interest loans to black farmers. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 6, 1888 - Heywood Broun, cofounder of The Newspaper Guild, was born in New York City. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 6, 1889 – The trial of the Chicago Haymarket anarchists began amidst national and international outrage and protest. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 6, 1907 – 361 coal workers were killed in West Virginia's Marion County when a mine explosed at the Fairmont Coal Company in Monongah. It was the worst mining disaster in American history.

December 6, 1928 – The "Ciénaga Slaughter" occurred in Columbia. After breaking a mass strike in the banana region in November, National Army troops fired on a peaceful rally of thousands of strikers, killing over one thousand workers.

December 6, 1933 – Dorothy Day cofounded the Catholic Worker newspaper, New York City

December 6, 1965 – Rose Pesotta, anarchist labor activist, died on this date. Pesotta was the only woman on the General Executive Board of the International Ladies' Garment Workers (ILGWU) from 1933-1944. She participated in a 10-year struggle to organize workers, including a turf war with a communist faction.  

December 6, 1984 – Children picketed the Mendiola Bridge in Manila, Philippines, demanding the release of their parents, who were being held as political prisoners by the U.S.-supported Marcos regime.

Today in Labor History—November 27

November 27, 1937 – The ILGWU-commissioned the kitschy musical "Pins & Needles" opened on Broadway, with a cast made up entirely of International Lady Garment Worker Union members. Rehearsals were held at night and on weekends, and performances were all on Fridays and Saturdays to appease their bosses (i.e., keep their jobs). In 1962, a 25th anniversary edition of the score was released featuring Barbra Streisand. (From Workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—June 3

Today in Labor History—June 3

June 3, 1900 - The International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was founded. (From Workday Minnesota)

June 3, 1901 – Carpenters struck for higher wages & union recognition in Ottawa, Canada. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 3, 1910—The Francisco Ferrer Association was founded in Harlem, by supporters of the educator who had been executed by the Spanish government the year before. The organization’s goals included founding libertarian schools throughout the U.S. based on the principals of Francisco Ferrer.

June 3, 1918 - A federal child labor law that had been enacted in 1916 was declared unconstitutional. A new version was enacted on February 24, 1919, but was also later declared unconstitutional. It was not until the 1930s that child labor provisions were enacted as part of sweeping labor law reforms, though exploitation of children continues to be a problem in the United States today). (From Workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—February 15, 2012

1910 Photo of Some of the Strike Participants

February 15, 1910 – “The Uprising of the Twenty Thousand," International Ladies' Garment Workers Union Shirtwaist strike that began September 27 was declared officially over on this date by the ILGWU. By this date, 339 manufacturing firms had reached agreements with the union. 13 firms, including Triangle Shirtwaist Company did not settle. One of the demands of the demands had been for adequate fire escapes and for open doors to the streets for emergencies. In 1911, 146 girls and women were killed in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 15, 1950 – The CIO expelled the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, the Food, Tobacco and Agricultural Workers, and the United Office and Professional Workers for “communist tendencies.” (From the Daily Bleed)

February 15, 2003 - 25 million people demonstrated against President George W. Bush’s plan to go to war in Iraq, making it the largest coordinated protest in history. Demonstrations took place in over 100 countries. (From workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—December 6

December 6, 1810 – Miguel Hidalgo abolished slavery in Mexico. (From the Daily Bleed)

Colored National Labor Convention, Harpers 1869 (pub. dom.)

December 6, 1865 – The U.S., always the backwards, 3^rd world nation, followed Mexico’s lead 55 years later by ratifying the 13th amendment and abolishing [chattel] slavery. Prisoners could (and can still) be forced to work without wages, while all workers were (and still are) subject to wage slavery. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 6, 1869 – The first national black labor group, the Colored National Labor Convention, met for the first time in Washington, DC. Roughly 214 delegates attended, sending a petition to Congress requesting direct intervention in the South by subdividing the public lands into forty-acre farms and providing low-interest loans to black farmers. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 6, 1888 - Heywood Broun, cofounder of The Newspaper Guild, was born in New York City. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 6, 1889 – The trial of the Chicago Haymarket anarchists began amidst national and international outrage and protest. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 6, 1907 – 361 coal workers were killed in West Virginia's Marion County when a mine explosed at the Fairmont Coal Company in Monongah. It was the worst mining disaster in American history.

December 6, 1928 – The "Ciénaga Slaughter" occurred in Columbia. After breaking a mass strike in the banana region in November, National Army troops fired on a peaceful rally of thousands of strikers, killing over one thousand workers.

December 6, 1933 – Dorothy Day cofounded the Catholic Worker newspaper, New York City

December 6, 1965 – Rose Pesotta, anarchist labor activist, died on this date. Pesotta was the only woman on the General Executive Board of the International Ladies' Garment Workers (ILGWU) from 1933-1944. She participated in a 10-year struggle to organize workers, including a turf war with a communist faction.  

December 6, 1984 – Children picketed the Mendiola Bridge in Manila, Philippines, demanding the release of their parents, who were being held as political prisoners by the U.S.-supported Marcos regime.

Today in Labor History—November 27

November 27, 1937 – The ILGWU-commissioned the kitschy musical "Pins & Needles" opened on Broadway, with a cast made up entirely of International Lady Garment Worker Union members. Rehearsals were held at night and on weekends, and performances were all on Fridays and Saturdays to appease their bosses (i.e., keep their jobs). In 1962, a 25th anniversary edition of the score was released featuring Barbra Streisand. (From Workday Minnesota)

Today In Labor History—July 1

Bakunin speaking before the International Workingmens Association, Basel Congress, 1869

July 1, 1876 – Anarchist leader Michael Bakunin died in Berne, Switzerland. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 1, 1910 – The ILGWU organized a large strike, known as the "Great Revolt" involving 50,000 cloak-makers that lasted through October. Taking their lead from the women, the mostly male cloak-makers won uniform wages, a shorter work week and paid holidays. As a result of the strikes in 1909 and 1910, the ILGWU swelled in membership. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 1, 1922 – 1,000,000 railroad shop workers walked off their jobs, initiating what became known as the “Big Strike.” They eventually lost and many members were blacklisted. (From Workday Minnesota and the Daily Bleed)

July 1, 1937 – The Hawaiian long shore strike brought together Japanese, Filipino and other ethnic plantation workers into one labor union (ILWU). (From the Daily Bleed)

July 1, 1968 – The United Auto Workers (UAW) under the leadership of Walter Reuther, left the AFL, partly because of conflicts between Reuther and AFL president George Meany. Reuther died (was killed?) in a plane crash in 1970, and the UAW did not rejoin the AFL until 1981. (From Shmoop Labor History)

July 1, 1977 – Native American activist Leonard Peltier was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the killing of two FBI agents who died while attacking an American Indian Movement (AIM) encampment, despite the fact that there was no evidence directly linking him to their deaths. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 1, 1983 – Copper miners began a against Phelps-Dodge in Clifton, Arizona, in which Governor Bruce Babbitt repeatedly sent in state police and National Guardsmen to suppress the laborers. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—June 3

June 3, 1900 - The International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) was founded. (From Workday Minnesota)

June 3, 1901 – Carpenters struck for higher wages & union recognition in Ottawa, Canada. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 3, 1918 - A federal child labor law that had been enacted in 1916 was declared unconstitutional. A new version was enacted on February 24, 1919, but was also later declared unconstitutional. It was not until the 1930s that child labor provisions were enacted as part of sweeping labor law reforms, though exploitation of children continues to be a problem in the United States today). (From Workday Minnesota)