Today in Labor History—May 19

May 19, 1850 – Four thousand Mexican workers gathered in Sonora, California, to protest the "Foreign Miners' Tax," enacted to drive them from gold fields. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1855 – U.S. troops landed in Shanghai to "protect American interests." (From the Daily Bleed)

Jose Marti

May 19, 1895 – Cuban Revolutionary and independence leader Jose Marti died. (From the Daily Bleed)

Fraterville Miners Circle From Coal Creek Disater (Image by Brian Stansberry)

May 19, 1902 –An explosion in Coal Creek, Tennessee killed 184 miners. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1921 – Continuing labor organizing and strikes in Mingo County (see Matewan Massacre, May 18 Today in Labor History) led the Governor to proclaim martial law in Mingo County. UMWA membership had bloomed in the wake of the "Matewan Massacre").(From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1925 – Malcolm X  was born, Omaha, Nebraska. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1928 – A coal-mine explosion in Mather, Pa killed 194,. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1934 – 10,000 participated in "No More War" march, New York City. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1989 -- Trinidadian Marxist philosopher C.L.R. James died. James was the author of The Black Jacobins (1938), Breaking a Boundary (1963), & numerous articles and essays on class & race antagonism, West Indian self-determination, cricket, Marxism, & aesthetics. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 7

Antonio Maceo (Wikipedia, public domain)

December 7, 1896 – Antonio Maceo (1848-1896), the "Titan of Bronze" Cuban revolutionary leader, died from wounds after 27 fights in 92 days. (from the Daily Bleed)

December 7, 1896 - The International Union of Operating Engineers was founded. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 7, 1905 – A general uprising began on this date, collapsing 23 days later, with over 1,000 dead. More than 150,000 workers participated in aGeneral Strike as part of the uprising. (from the Daily Bleed)

December 7, 1918 – 100,000 textile workers went on strike in Lancashire, England. (from the Daily Bleed)

December 7, 1928 – Noam Chomsky was born on this date in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (from the Daily Bleed).

December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor was attacked, leading to the U.S. entry into World War II and the second mass slaughter of millions of working people to protect the interests of capital.

(From Workday Minnesota)

December 7, 1949 – The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was founded, London. (from the Daily Bleed).

December 7, 1995 – Up to 1.75 million striking French workers demonstrated in marches that shut down the country as part of a series of General Strikesagainst government cutbacks & global exploitation of workers. (from the Daily Bleed).

December 7, 2010--Julian Assange was arrested in London and the U.S. declared war on Wikileaks.(from the Daily Bleed).

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)

Today in Labor History—May 19

May 19, 1850 – Four thousand Mexican workers gathered in Sonora, California, to protest the "Foreign Miners' Tax," enacted to drive them from gold fields. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1855 – U.S. troops landed in Shanghai to "protect American interests." (From the Daily Bleed)

Jose Marti

May 19, 1895 – Cuban Revolutionary and independence leader Jose Marti died. (From the Daily Bleed)

Fraterville Miners Circle From Coal Creek Disater (Image by Brian Stansberry)

May 19, 1902 –An explosion in Coal Creek, Tennessee killed 184 miners. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1921 – Continuing labor organizing and strikes in Mingo County (see Matewan Massacre, May 18 Today in Labor History) led the Governor to proclaim martial law in Mingo County. UMWA membership had bloomed in the wake of the "Matewan Massacre").(From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1925 – Malcolm X  was born, Omaha, Nebraska. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1928 – A coal-mine explosion in Mather, Pa killed 194,. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1934 – 10,000 participated in "No More War" march, New York City. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1989 -- Trinidadian Marxist philosopher C.L.R. James died. James was the author of The Black Jacobins (1938), Breaking a Boundary (1963), & numerous articles and essays on class & race antagonism, West Indian self-determination, cricket, Marxism, & aesthetics. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 7

Antonio Maceo (Wikipedia, public domain)

December 7, 1896 – Antonio Maceo (1848-1896), the "Titan of Bronze" Cuban revolutionary leader, died from wounds after 27 fights in 92 days. (from the Daily Bleed)

December 7, 1896 - The International Union of Operating Engineers was founded. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 7, 1905 – A general uprising began on this date, collapsing 23 days later, with over 1,000 dead. More than 150,000 workers participated in a General Strike as part of the uprising. (from the Daily Bleed)

December 7, 1918 – 100,000 textile workers went on strike in Lancashire, England. (from the Daily Bleed)

December 7, 1928 – Noam Chomsky was born on this date in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (from the Daily Bleed).

December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor was attacked, leading to the U.S. entry into World War II and the second mass slaughter of millions of working people to protect the interests of capital.

(From Workday Minnesota)

December 7, 1949 – The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was founded, London. (from the Daily Bleed).

December 7, 1995 – Up to 1.75 million striking French workers demonstrated in marches that shut down the country as part of a series of General Strikes against government cutbacks & global exploitation of workers. (from the Daily Bleed).

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)

Today in Labor History—May 19

May 19, 1850 – Four thousand Mexican workers gathered in Sonora, California, to protest the "Foreign Miners' Tax," enacted to drive them from gold fields. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1855 – U.S. troops landed in Shanghai to "protect American interests." (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1895 – Cuban Revolutionary and independence leader Jose Marti died. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1902 –An explosion in Coal Creek, Tennessee killed 184 miners. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1921 – Continuing labor organizing and strikes in Mingo County (see Matewan Massacre, May 18 Today in Labor History) led the Governor to proclaim martial law in Mingo County. UMWA membership had bloomed in the wake of the "Matewan Massacre").(From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1925 – Malcolm X  was born, Omaha, Nebraska. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1928 – A coal-mine explosion in Mather, Pa killed 194,. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1934 – 10,000 participated in "No More War" march, New York City. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 19, 1989 -- Trinidadian Marxist philosopher C.L.R. James died. James was the author of The Black Jacobins (1938), Breaking a Boundary (1963), & numerous articles and essays on class & race antagonism, West Indian self-determination, cricket, Marxism, & aesthetics. (From the Daily Bleed)