Today in Labor History—March 15

March 15, 1877 -- Ben Fletcher, African-American IWW organizer was born on this date. Fletcher organized longshoremen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 15, 1887 - The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades was founded on this date. Today they represent more than 140,000 members in the construction industry, such as Painters, Drywall Finishers, Glaziers, Floor Coverers, and Sign and Display workers. (From Workday Minnesota)

 

March 15, 1917 - The U.S. Supreme Court approved the 8-hour workday under the threat of a rail strike. (From the Daily Bleed) 

March 15, 1920 - The Workers Council movement began a strike in Turin, Italy, which spread to other northern cities by April. Factories were taken over and occupied by workers, who ran them under their own leadership and rules, bypassing and ignoring the bosses. The government sent warships to Turin to land soldiers sent to quash the uprising.
(From the Daily Bleed)