Today in Labor History--January 10

Francisco Ferrer

January 10, 1859 – Radical Spanish educator Francisco Ferrer was born on this date. Ferrer started the first Modern Schools in Spain and inspired hundreds more to be created throughout the world. (From the Daily Bleed andModern School)

January 10, 1860 – The Pemberton Mill suddenly collapsed in Lawrence, Massachusetts, trapping 900 workers, mostly Irish women. The mill then caught fire, seriously injuring 116 women and killing 88. The fire inquest revealed inferior construction that was too weak to support the brick walls and heavy machinery. The engineer in charge of construction, Captain Charles Bigelow, was aware of this, but was still acquitted of criminal intent. (From theDaily Bleed)

January 10, 1904 – The U.S. Bookbinders Union, No. 147, founded. (From the Daily Bleed)

Train Overturned During 1905 Strike

January 10, 1905 – A revolutionary strike of workers occurred on this date in St. Petersburg, Russia. The revolution lasted from 1905 to 1908. (From theDaily Bleed)

Bolshevik Bombs Discovered in 1907

Joe Hill

January 10, 1914 – IWW labor organizer/folk singer Joe Hill, allegedly killed two men during a grocery store hold-up on this date. He was ultimately framed for the murders and executed. (From theDaily Bleed)

January 10, 1957 – The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was founded on this date, with Martin Luther King, Jr. becoming its president. (From theDaily Bleed)

January 10, 1994 – The U.S. Supreme Court let stand the implementation of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) despite the lack of an Environmental Impact Statement. (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—January 10

Francisco Ferrer

January 10, 1859 – Radical Spanish educator Francisco Ferrer was born on this date. Ferrer started the first Modern Schools in Spain and inspired hundreds more to be created throughout the world. (From the Daily Bleed and Modern School)

January 10, 1860 – The Pemberton Mill suddenly collapsed in Lawrence, Massachusetts, trapping 900 workers, mostly Irish women. The mill then caught fire, seriously injuring 116 women and killing 88. The fire inquest revealed inferior construction that was too weak to support the brick walls and heavy machinery. The engineer in charge of construction, Captain Charles Bigelow, was aware of this, but was still acquitted of criminal intent. (From the Daily Bleed)

January 10, 1904 – The U.S. Bookbinders Union, No. 147, founded. (From the Daily Bleed)

Train Overturned During 1905 Strike

January 10, 1905 – A revolutionary strike of workers occurred on this date in St. Petersburg, Russia. The revolution lasted from 1905 to 1908. (From the Daily Bleed)

Bolshevik Bombs Discovered in 1907

Joe Hill

 January 10, 1914 – IWW labor organizer/folk singer Joe Hill, allegedly killed two men during a grocery store hold-up on this date. He was ultimately framed for the murders and executed. (From the Daily Bleed)

January 10, 1957 – The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was founded on this date, with Martin Luther King, Jr. becoming its president. (From the Daily Bleed)

January 10, 1994 – The U.S. Supreme Court let stand the implementation of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) despite the lack of an Environmental Impact Statement. (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)