Today's Labor History

Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. Union City's Chris Garlock hosts. On this week's show: Joe McCartin talks about the origins of May Day and its relevance today. Patrick Dixon interviews historian Kevin Boyle on anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti, and Saul Schniderman tells us how Mother Jones celebrated her 100th birthday in Silver Spring, Maryland. Plus, Billy Bragg on how Pete Seeger got him to write a new verse for “The Internationale,” and music by Billy, Pete and Joan Baez.

Mary Harris “Mother” Jones born in County Cork, Ireland - 1830
 
Cigar makers in Cincinnati warn there could be a strike in the fall if factory owners continue to insist that they pay 30¢ per month for gas heat provided at work during mornings and evenings - 1883
 
Eight-hour day demonstration in Chicago and other cities begins tradition of May Day as international labor holiday - 1886
 
The Cooks’ and Waiters’ Union strikes in San Francisco, demanding one day of rest per week, a 10-hour work day and a union shop for all restaurants in the city - 1901
 
Mother Jones’ 100th birthday celebrated at the Burgess Farm in Adelphi, Md. She died six months later - 1930
 
New York City’s Empire State Building officially opens. Construction involved 3,400 workers, mostly immigrants from Europe, and hundreds of Mohawk iron workers. Five workers died during construction - 1931
 
Congress enacts amendments to the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, extending protections to the employees of state and local governments—protections which didn’t take effect until 1985 because of court challenges and regulation-writing problems - 1974
 
The federal minimum wage rises to $2 per hour - 1974
 
Rallies in cities across the U.S. for what organizers call “A Day Without Immigrants.” An estimated 100,000 immigrants and sympathizers gathered in San Jose, Calif., 200,000 in New York, 400,000 each in Chicago and Los Angeles.  In all, there were demonstrations in at least 50 cities - 2006
Compiled/edited by Union Communication Services