Today in Labor History—December 28

Terence Powderly, Grand Master of Knights of Labor, 1890

December 28, 1869 - The Knights of Labor (KOL) was founded on this date. Though the leadership often denounced socialists and anarchists, the KOL attracted and spawned many, including Daniel DeLeon, who would go on to later cofound the IWW and the Socialist Labor Party, as well as two of the Haymarket martyrs. The KOL also denounced strikes, yet, like its more radical cousin, the IWW, it called for the abolition of the wage system and fought to organize all workers into one big union, including women and immigrants. And, like the IWW, one of the KOL’s slogans was, “An Injury to One is the Concern of All.” The KOL was one of the main organizations behind the Great Upheavaland one of the first labor organization not only to take on the Robber Barons, but to defeat them (if only temporarily). (From Workday Minnesota, the Daily Bleed, and the Lucy Parsons Project).

Flint Sit-Down Strike

 December 28, 1936 - The great sit-down strike against General Motors in Flint, Michigan, was preceded by two days when workers at the Fisher Body plant in Cleveland engaged in a sit-down strike. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 28, 1944 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Army to seize the executive offices of Montgomery Ward and Company after the patriotic corporation failed to comply with a National War Labor Board directive regarding union shops.  (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 27

December 27, 1913 -- A rebellion by IWW workers in Edmonton, Alberta forced the city to house 400 unemployed during winter. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 27, 1916 – A steelworkers strike occurred in Ohio in which workers were demanding the 8-hour day and an increase in wages. The strike ended quickly in their favor because the government needed steel for armaments. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 27, 1943 - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt seized the railroads in attempt to block a nationwide rail strike. The railroads would be temporarily placed under the "supervision" of the War Department, which prompted the five railroad brotherhoods to accept his offer to arbitrate the dispute. (FromWorkday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—August 14

August 14, 1846 – Henry David Thoreau was jailed for refusing to pay his taxes in protest of the Mexican War. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 14, 1850 – Squatters' riots occurred in California. 500 militia men were sent to Sacramento to quell the uprising and martial law was declared. 2 squatters and 3 militiamen were killed, as were 2 bystanders. (From the Daily Bleed and Wikipedia)

August 14, 1934 - The most successful anti-poverty program in U.S. history was created when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. (From Workday Minnesota)

August 14, 1999 - Former AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland died. Kirkland was a staunch anti-Communist and strong supporter of the Solidarity movement in Poland. (From Workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—December 28

Terence Powderly, Grand Master of Knights of Labor, 1890

December 28, 1869 - The Knights of Labor (KOL) was founded on this date. Though the leadership often denounced socialists and anarchists, the KOL attracted and spawned many, including Daniel DeLeon, who would go on to later cofound the IWW and the Socialist Labor Party, as well as two of the Haymarket martyrs. The KOL also denounced strikes, yet, like its more radical cousin, the IWW, it called for the abolition of the wage system and fought to organize all workers into one big union, including women and immigrants. And, like the IWW, one of the KOL’s slogans was, “An Injury to One is the Concern of All.” The KOL was one of the main organizations behind the Great Upheaval and one of the first labor organization not only to take on the Robber Barons, but to defeat them (if only temporarily). (From Workday Minnesota, the Daily Bleed, and the Lucy Parsons Project).

Flint Sit-Down Strike

 December 28, 1936 - The great sit-down strike against General Motors in Flint, Michigan, was preceded by two days when workers at the Fisher Body plant in Cleveland engaged in a sit-down strike. (From Workday Minnesota)

December 28, 1944 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Army to seize the executive offices of Montgomery Ward and Company after the patriotic corporation failed to comply with a National War Labor Board directive regarding union shops.  (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 27

December 27, 1913 -- A rebellion by IWW workers in Edmonton, Alberta forced the city to house 400 unemployed during winter. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 27, 1916 – A steelworkers strike occurred in Ohio in which workers were demanding the 8-hour day and an increase in wages. The strike ended quickly in their favor because the government needed steel for armaments. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 27, 1943 - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt seized the railroads in attempt to block a nationwide rail strike. The railroads would be temporarily placed under the "supervision" of the War Department, which prompted the five railroad brotherhoods to accept his offer to arbitrate the dispute. (From Workday Minnesota)

Obama Digs His Own Grave, Promises To Maintain Status Quo

Obama’s Jobs speech should have been no surprise to anyone. In fact, the only thing that was surprising was how redundant and tedious it was. “You must pass this bill now,” he said at least half a dozen times, suggesting that he expected to fast track the legislation without debate or criticism.

He did channel FDR with offers to put Americans back to work rebuilding roads and bridges. However, FDR created 11-12 million jobs through massive spending on the order of $1-2 trillion in today’s dollars. Obama, in contrast, is only offering a few hundred billion. By appealing to Republicans with the promise that the legislation will not cost a penny, he ensured that the best he will accomplish is maintaining a status quo of stagnant growth and relatively high unemployment.

This was probably Obama’s last opportunity to do anything to actually help struggling Americans and he blew the opportunity, thus ensuring that by election time he will be as unpopular as he is today. He essentially dug his own grave by not offering a plan that was much more bold and aggressive.

The aspect of his plan that should be of most concern to working Americans, however, is his commitment to cutting payroll taxes for businesses that start hiring. He said there were only two conditions for this gift: businesses must create jobs and do it in the communities most in need. However, this leaves open the possibility that the jobs will be dangerous, low paid, tedious, short-term and lacking in benefits.

In fact, Obama’s jobs bill sounds a lot like a plan to exploit the large army of unemployed workers to drive down wages and working conditions for everyone else.

Today in Labor History—August 14

August 14, 1846 – Henry David Thoreau was jailed for refusing to pay his taxes in protest of the Mexican War. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 14, 1850 – Squatters' riots occurred in California. 500 militia men were sent to Sacramento to quell the uprising and martial law was declared. 2 squatters and 3 militiamen were killed, as were 2 bystanders. (From the Daily Bleed and Wikipedia)

August 14, 1934 - The most successful anti-poverty program in U.S. history was created when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. (From Workday Minnesota)

August 14, 1999 - Former AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland died. Kirkland was a staunch anti-Communist and strong supporter of the Solidarity movement in Poland. (From Workday Minnesota)