Today in Labor History--January 5

First Negro Labor Convention (From Harpers)

January 5, 1869 -- The First U.S. Negro Labor Convention was held on this date. (From the Daily Bleed)

January 5, 1914 - Ford raised its basic wage from $2.40 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day. (From Workday Minnesota)

Rosa Luxemburg

Karl Liebknecht

January 5, 1919 – The Spartacists, led by Karl Liebknecht & Rosa Luxemburg, led a revolt to renew the November revolution lasting 6 days (in Berlin). Both Liebknecht and Luxemburg were murdered by the so-called "democratic" left on January 15th. (From the Daily Bleed)

  

January 5, 1970 - Joseph "Jock" Yablonski, a United Mine Workers reform candidate who tried to unseat President Tony Boyle, was murdered, along with his wife and daughter, in their Pennsylvania home by assassins sent by Boyle who was later convicted of the killing.  (From Workday Minnesota)