This week’s Labor History Today podcast: African American Lumber Workers in the Jim Crow South
William P. Jones on “The Tribe of Black Ulysses: African American Lumber Workers in the Jim Crow South,” plus a letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to AFL-CIO urging the formation of a “Committee on Inquiry Into the Administration of Justice in the Freedom Struggle.” Interviews by Chris Garlock and Alan Wierdak. (Show originally released 2/24/2019) 2020 Bonus: Patrick Dixon on Chaplin’s “City Lights” as a labor film. Last week’s show: Striking Images: Labor on Screen and in the Streets February 28 U.S. Supreme Court finds that a Utah state law limiting mine and smelter workers to an eight-hour workday is constitutional - 1898 The minimum age allowed by law for workers in mills, factories, and mines in South Carolina is raised from twelve to fourteen - (Actually Leap Year Feb. 29) 1915 Members of the Chinese Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union in San Francisco’s Chinatown begin what is to be a successful four-month strike for better wages and conditions at the National Dollar Stores factory and three retail outlets - 1938 February 29 Screen Actors Guild member Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African-American to win an Academy Award (see video), honored for her portrayal of “Mammy” in “Gone with the Wind” - 1940 March 1 The Granite Cutters National Union begins what is to be a successful nationwide strike for the 8-hour day. Also won: union recognition, wage increases, a grievance procedure and a minimum wage scale - 1900 Joseph Curren is born on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. At age 16 he joined the Merchant Marines and in 1937 went on to lead the formation of the National Maritime Union. He was the union’s founding president and held the post until 1973. He died in 1981 - 1906 IWW strikes Portland, Ore. sawmills - 1907 CIO president John L. Lewis and U.S. Steel President Myron Taylor sign a landmark contract in which the bitterly anti-union company officially recognized the CIO as sole negotiator for the company's unionized workers. Included: the adoption of overtime pay, the 40-hour work week, and a big pay hike - 1937 - David Prosten click here for latest listings Union City Radio: weekdays, 7:15am; WPFW-FM 89.3 Black Workers Roundtable: Policy Priorities during the 2020 Presidential Race: Wed, February 26, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Economic Policy Institute 1225 I St. NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC, 20005 Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, February 27, 1pm – 2pm WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online This week's guest: Hamilton Nolan, new labor columnist at In These Times Play: “Sweat”: Thu, February 27, 7:00pm – 9:30pm UUCF Sanctuary 2709 Hunter Mill Rd Oakton, VA 22124 Buy tickets here Safeway’s refusal to agree to fully fund pensions for its workers has become the main sticking point in negotiations, reports UFCW 400. The union met with Safeway negotiators Monday for the first time in over a week and negotiations are continuing. “In the meantime,” said Local 400, “we are continuing to prepare for a strike at Safeway. We are distributing letters to neighboring businesses at shopping centers to ask for their support and to inform them that picket lines will appear in front of Safeway stores.” A strike vote is scheduled for March 5, when union members will also vote on the tentative contract agreement already reached with Giant. The Metro Washington Council’s DC COPE will interview candidates for the DC City Council on Wednesday, March 11, from 9:30a–4p. The schedule is 9:30am–11am, Ward 8 candidates; 11am–12pm, Ward 2; 1-2pm, Ward 7; 2-3pm, At-Large; 3–4pm, Ward 4. Location and RSVP link will be released shortly.
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