This week’s Labor History Today podcast: MLK at the AFL-CIO in 1961. Last week's show: Who was Zelda D’Aprano? January 26 In what could be considered the first workers’ compensation agreement in America, pirate Henry Morgan pledges his underlings 600 pieces of eight or six slaves to compensate for a lost arm or leg. Also part of the pirate’s code, reports Roger Newell: shares of the booty were equal regardless of race or sex, and shipboard decisions were made collectively. - 1695 Samuel Gompers, first AFL president, born in London, England. He emigrated to the U.S. as a youth - 1850 Workers win a two-day sitdown strike at the Brooklyn electric plant that powers the city's entire subway system - 1937 January 27 New York City maids organize to improve working conditions – 1734 Kansas miners strike against compulsory arbitration - 1920 A group of Detroit African-American auto workers known as the Eldon Avenue Axle Plant Revolutionary Union Movement leads a wildcat strike against racism and bad working conditions. They are critical of both automakers and the UAW, condemning the seniority system and grievance procedures as racist - 1969 - David Prosten. Comments are closed.
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