“Taxes, after all, are the dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society.” Roosevelt's Wealth Tax Act, increasing taxes on rich citizens and big business and lowering taxes for small businesses, passed on this date in 1935. Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. On this week’s show: Heidi Thomas on the history of rodeo women; Frances Perkins’ labor landmarks; Common revisits MLK’s "I Have A Dream" speech; labor and civil rights activists unite to desegregate Glen Echo Amusement Park. August 30 Delegates from several East Coast cities meet in convention to form the National Trades' Union, uniting craft unions to oppose "the most unequal and unjustifiable distribution of the wealth of society in the hands of a few individuals." The union faded after a few years - 1834 August 31 John Reed forms the Communist Labor Party in Chicago. The Party’s motto: "Workers of the world unite!" - 1919 10,000 striking miners began a fight at Blair Mountain, W.Va., for recognition of their union, the UMWA. Federal troops were sent in, and miners were forced to withdraw 5 days later, after 16 deaths - 1921 The Trade Union Unity League is founded as an alternative to the American Federation of Labor, with the goal of organizing along industrial rather than craft lines. An arm of the American Communist Party, the League claimed 125,000 members before it dissolved in the late 1930s - 1929 Solidarity workers movement founded as a strike coordination committee at Lenin Shipyards, Gdansk, Poland. The strike launched a wave of unrest in the Soviet Union that ultimately led to its dissolution in 1991 - 1980 325,000 unionists gathered in Washington, D.C. for a Solidarity Day march and rally for workplace fairness and healthcare reform - 1991 Detroit teachers begin what is to become a nine day strike, winning smaller class sizes and raises of up to four percent - 1999 September 1 Congress declares Labor Day a national holiday - 1894 30,000 women from 26 trades marched in Chicago's Labor Day parade - 1903 The AFL-CIO creates Working America, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization designed to build alliances among non-union working people - 2003 September 2 Mineowners bomb West Virginia strikers by plane, using homemade bombs filled with nails and metal fragments. The bombs missed their targets or failed to explode - 1921 President Eisenhower signs legislation expanding Social Security by providing much wider coverage and including 10 million additional Americans, most of them self-employed farmers, with additional benefits - 1954 click here for latest listings
Union City Radio: 7:15a M-F; WPFW-FM 89.3 WPFW's ARISE Labor Edition: Fri, August 30, 9am – 10am WPFW FM 89.3 or online wpfwfm.org Guests: Shawna Bader-Blau, Executive Director, Solidarity Center & Jason Walsh, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. Greenbelt Labor Day Festival: Fri, August 30, 6:00pm – 11:30pm; Sat, August 31, 10:30am – 10:00pm; Sun, September 1, 12pm – 10pm; Mon, September 2, 11am – 6pm Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness, 101 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD 20770 NoVA Labor Annual Labor Day Picnic: Sun, September 1, 12pm – 3pm Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308 2019 “Workers Rising” WPFW Labor Day Special: Mon, September 2, 8am – 12pm WPFW 89.3 FM or stream online at wpfwfm.org Hosted by Chris Garlock and Elise Bryant: 8a: Labor music; 9a: Labor Radio/Podcast Network Roundtable; 10a: How to tip; labor Down Under; ghost workers; 11a: Labor history online and on-air Greenbelt Labor Day Parade: Mon, September 2, 10am – 12pm The parade route is along Crescent Road, from Greenhill Road to Southway. Our Lady Queen of Peace Labor Day Mass (VA): Mon, September 2, 11am – 12pm 2700 S. 19th St., Arlington, VA 81st Annual Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade: Mon, September 2, 11:30am – 3:00pm UFCW 1994, 600 S. Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD Alexandria Dems Labor Day Picnic: Mon, September 2, 12pm – 4pm Fort Ward Park (Area 2), 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA Arlington County Dems Labor Day Chili Cook-off: Mon, September 2, 2pm – 5pm Lyon Park Community Center, 414 N Fillmore St, Arlington, VA 22201 DC Labor Chorus Labor Day Concert: Mon, September 2, 2pm – 5pm New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD 20770 Falls Church City Democratic Committee Annual Labor Day Ice Cream Social: Mon, September 2, 2pm – 4pm Pavilion Area, Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church VA Baltimore Symphony Musicians picket line (Day 79): Tue, September 3, 9:30am – 11:00am Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 1212 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201 Labor Live@5: Pam Parker (with Michael Raitzyk): Tue, September 3, 5pm – 6pm WPFW 89.3FM click here for latest listings Union City Radio: 7:15a; WPFW-FM 89.3 Baltimore Symphony Musicians picket line: Thu, August 29, 8:30am – 10:00am Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 1212 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201 photo: last week the Baltimore Symphony musicians moved their picket line from the Meyerhoff to Charles Street, for the benefit of rush hour commuters and curious pedestrians. Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, August 29, 1pm – 2pm WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online Political Bootcamp for NoVA Labor Affiliates: Thu, August 29, 6pm – 8pm NoVA Labor, 4536 B John Marr Dr., Annandale, VA Training on political program for affiliated unions by Virginia AFL-CIO RSVP to [email protected] |