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 down their tools. Exact date estimated, described as within “the sixth month of the 29th year” of Ramses’ reign—1170BC—in The Spirit of Ancient Egypt, by Ana Ruiz. Scholar John Romer adds inAncient Lives: The Story of the Pharaoh’s Tombmakers that the strike so terrified the authorities they gave in and raised wages. Romer believes it happened a few years later, on Nov. 14, 1152 B.C. Troops are dispatched to Cripple Creek, Colo., to control protests 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 The first meeting between “No tin-hat brigade of goose-stepping vigilantes or bibble-babbling mob of blackguarding and corporation paid scoundrels will prevent the onward march of labor, or divert its purpose to play its natural and rational part in the development of the economic, political and social life of our nation.” photo: Lewis announcing formation of CIO The first group of food and retail workers at Reagan National Airport-DCA has now won a union, reports UNITE HERE Local 23. "150 workers won the union on November 14th, and will now negotiate their first contract!" reports Allison Burket. photo by UNITE HERE 23 Elected officials -- including Congressman-elect Jamie Raskin and former Maryland Governor and Presidential candidate Martin O'Malley, who famously sang “Joe Hill” a cappella at the 2014 Evening With Labor dinner --will join labor and community leaders at the Renters Alliance 2016 Building Community Celebration on December 8 at the Silver Spring Civic Center. Click here for tickets. "The number one expense of all union workers is their housing, and more and more union members are renting their homes," said Gino Renne, president of UFCW Local 1994 which represents about 8000 public employees. "The Renters Alliance is working to help union members and everyone who lives in rental housing pursue their rights to quality, affordable and well maintained homes. We support them and urge others to do so as well." |