Today in Labor History: April 17

April 17, 617--53 Scottish monks were burned alive in their refectory by armed women seeking revenge for being cheated out of their pasture rights on the isle of Eigg (from the Daily Bleed). Wikipedia says that 150 Christians, including Saint Donnan (who had recently introduced Christianity to the area), were burnt alive by the pagan Pictish queen, but is vague about their motivation.

April 17, 1824--Slavery was abolished in Central America (from the Daily Bleed).

Benjamin Tucker

\April 17, 1854--American individualist anarchist and publisher of Liberty, Ben Tucker, was born on this date (from the Daily Bleed).

Richmond, VA Bread Riot

April 17, 1864 –Bread riots in Savannah, Georgia. (From the Daily Bleed) The Civil War had been going on for several years. Soldiers were deserting, particularly working class conscripts. Those that remained were hungry and eating/stealing whatever food could be found, creating food shortages for all but the most well off residents, precipitating food riots throughout the south, particularly by poor women. (From Not Even Past)

 

April 17, 1905-- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a New York maximum hours law for bakery workers was unconstitutional under the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment. Legislation limiting hours of employment was not passed until the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. (From Workday Minnesota)

April 17, 1912 –Miners struck at the Lena gold fields in eastern Siberia to protest terrible working & living conditions. Strike leaders were arrested and troops fired on a peaceful strikers’ march, killing over 200. (From the Daily Bleed)

April 17, 1968—One-third of the Duke University student body struck against racial discrimination in hiring (From the Daily Bleed)

April 17, 1996--Brazilian police attacked 2,000 landless peasants, killing 19 and wounding 69. Over 1,000 would be killed in similar protests throughout the 1990s. (From the Daily Bleed)