Today's Labor History

​Labor History Today (11/17): Remembering Lattimer, GINA and Newsies
Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. Paul Shackel, author of “Remembering Lattimer,” on one of the largest labor massacres in U.S. history. Lewis Maltby on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the major workplace protection measure celebrating its’ 10th anniversary. Plus a sneak preview of “Newsies,” now at Arena Stage in DC.
Last week's show: (11/10/19): Debs, Sanders, Socialism and 2020

November 22
The district president of the American Federation of Labor and two other white men are shot and killed in Bogalusa, Ala. as they attempt to assist an African-American organizer working to unionize African-American workers at the Great Southern Lumber Co. - 1919

November 23
Troops were dispatched to Cripple Creek, Colo. to control rioting by striking coal miners - 1903

Mine Workers President John L. Lewis walks away from the American Federation of Labor to lead the newly-formed Committee for Industrial Organization. The CIO and the unions created under its banner organized six million industrial workers over the following decade - 1935

History’s first recorded (on papyrus) strike, by Egyptians working on public works projects for King Ramses III in the Valley of the Kings. They were protesting having gone 20 days without pay -- portions of grain -- and put their tools down. King Ramses III died during the strike, and his son king Ramses IV decided to end this revolution by paying the salaries of the workmen and sent the food to every poor family. Read more here.

November 24
Led by Samuel Gompers, who would later found the American Federation of Labor, Cigarmakers International Union Local 144 is chartered in New York City - 1875

Some 10,000 New Orleans workers, black and white, participate in a solidarity parade of unions comprising the Central Trades and Labor Assembly. The parade was so successful it was repeated the following two years - 1883

Teachers strike in St. Paul, Minn., the first organized walkout by teachers in the country. The month-long “strike for better schools” involving some 1,100 teachers—and principals—led to a number of reforms in the way schools were administered and operated - 1946

1,550 typesetters begin what is to become a victorious 22-month strike against Chicago newspapers - 1947

George Meany becomes president of the American Federation of Labor following the death four days earlier of William Green - 1952

Labor history courtesy David Prosten. 

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