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Labor Day Holiday
The first labor day holiday was on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. It is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. -
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
The american federation of labor focused on better working conditions and better pay for the hours they work. And union labels on produced items. It was craft oriented. -
Haymarket Square Riot
Workers in Chicago march for an 8 hour work day- protest McComick Harvesting machine. Police come to break up the strike but 8 policemen die with 100s injured. Public saw unions and anarchists as a problem. -
"How the Other Half Lives"
Written by Jacob Riis; it writes about the tenements in the New York City slums in 1890. It descripes how the tenements are inside and outside. It also writes about what it is like for a family living there. -
The Homestead Strike
An industrial lockout and strike that began on June 30, 1892. It was a culminating battle between strikers and private secrity agents. It was one of the most serous disputes in US labor history. The dispute occured at Homestead Steel Works in Pittsburgh area of Homestead,PA between the Amalgamted Association of Iron and Steel workers and the Carneige Steel. The final result was a major defeat for the union, and a setback for effort to unioznie steelworkers. -
The Pullman Strike
Since the rents were high and in 1893 wages slashed due to the Panic of 1893 but Pullman refused to lower rents. Workers went on strike, led by Eugene V. Debs within days thousands of railroad workers in 27 states went on strike so there was no transportation from Chicago to the West Coast. The Union leaders were arrested and imprisoned. The strike collapsed. -
Noble Order of the Knights of Labor
It was organized by Philadelphia garment workers in 1869, It was open to farmers, merchants, and wage earners. The objectives were equal pay for equal work, abolition of child labor, and a 8 hour work day. -
The Coal Strike
Strike by the United Mine Workers of America in the anthracite coal fields in eastern PA. The strike threatended to shut down winter fuel to all major cities. President Theodore Roosevelt became involved and set up a fact-finding commision that suspended the strike. The strike never resumed, as the miners received more pay for fewer hours; the owners got a higher price for coal, and did not recognize the trade union as a bargining aspect. -
"The Jungle"
"The Jungle" which was written by Upton Sinclair described the disgusting conditions of the meat packing industry during the Progressive Era. The descriptions in the excerpts led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Also, the Meat Inspection Act -
"The Bitter Cry of Children"
Written by John Spargo; it described the breaker boys and their jobs. He wrote about what he thought about the work and how hard the jobs were. It exposed the hardships of child labor. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
United States federal law the provivded federal inspection of meat products and forbide the manufacture, sale,or transportation of adulterated food products and poisonous patent medicines. -
Triangle shirt factory fire
No one knows what caused the fire at the Triangle Waist Company in New York City but fire marshells think it was a cigeratte. The fire killed 146 workers of the 500. When the fire started workers tryed to call up to the floors above them but only some floors received the message. After the fire New York passed new fire and saftey laws. -
Congress of Industrial Organization
The Congress of Industrial Organization was a part of the AFL until 1935. It broke away because it advocated organization along industrial lines rather than craft lines. Finally reintergrated into AFL in 1955. -
The National Labor Relations Act
It is pro labor, and its right is to organize legally recognized. It created the National Labor Relations Board. Power to punish unfair labor practices. -
GM Sit-down Strike-1936-1937
Strike by General Motors employees that shut down plant operations in Flint, Michagin and other cites from December 30, 1936- February 11, 1937. The Action againest GM brought the tactic of sit-down strikes and their effectivness to the attention of the general public. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
For the first time, minimum ages of empolyment and hours of work for children are regulated by federal law. -
Steel Strike
Strike by the United Steelworkers of America againest U.S Steel and nine other steelmakers. The steel companies sued to regain control of their facilities. On June 2, 1952, in a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer vs. U.S that the president lacked the authority to seize the steel mills. The steelworkers struck to win a wage increase. The strike lasted 53 days, and ended on July 24, 1952. -
Major League Baseball Strike
The strike occured from April 1, 1972 to April 13, 1972. Baseball resumed when the owners and players agreed on a $500,000 increase in pension fund payments and to add salary arbitation to the Collective Bargining Agreement. The 86 games that were missed over the 13 day period were never played because the league refused to pay the players for the time they were on strike. -
New York City Transit Strike
The New York City Transit Strike was a strike in New York City called by the transprt Workers Union Local 100. Negotaitions for a new contract with the Metropoltian Transportation Authority broke down over retirement, pension, and wage increases. Millons of commuters were affected. The strike offically ended at 2:35 p.m on December 22, 2005. Service was restored over night, with all transportation systems fully operatonal by the morning commute of the 23rd.
