This week in Union History - Page 8

moosesteaks · #43 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

sorry all the updates have been slacking , the busy season at ups started early, first time i have sat at computer in 2 weeks.

December 08
25 unions found the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in Columbus, Ohio; Cigarmaker’s union leader Samuel Gompers is elected president. The AFL’s founding document’s preamble reads: “A struggle is going on in all of the civilized world between oppressors and oppressed of all countries, between capitalist and laborer...” - 1886

114-day newspaper strike begins, New York City - 1962

December 09
Knights of Labor founded. Constitution bars from membership “parasites,” including stockbrokers and lawyers - 1869

December 10
First sit-down strike in U.S. called by IWW at General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y. - 1906

International Human Rights Day, commemorating the signing at the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, in part: “Everyone has the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests” - 1948

December 11
Ten days after an Illinois State mine inspector approved coal dust removal techniques at New Orient mine in West Frankfort, the mine exploded, largely because of coal dust accumulations, killing 119 workers - 1951

Forty thousand workers go on general strike in London, Ontario—a city with a population of 300,000—protesting cuts in social services - 1995

December 12
A U.S. immigration sweep of six Swift meat plants results in arrests of nearly 1,300 undocumented workers - 2006

December 13
Death in San Antonio, Tex. of Samuel Gompers, president and founder of the American Federation of Labor - 1924

December 14
Daniel DeLeon, socialist scholar and labor organizer, born - 1852

Some 33,000 striking members of the Machinists end a 69-day walkout at Boeing after winning pay and benefit increases and protections against subcontracting some of their work overseas - 1995