Labor History in 2:00

August 24 - Weaponizing the War Against Labor

The year was 1877. 

That summer during what came to be known as “The Great Upheaval,” police, the US Army, and the National Guard brutally crushed a national railroad strike.  The simmering anger of working people had many elected officials and industrialists on edge. 

August 23 - The Committee Industrial Relations

On this day in Labor History the year was 1912.  That was the day the US Congress approved the formation of the Commission on Industrial Relations.  In the early 1900s the terrible work conditions and entrenched resistance to union organizing had led to increasing labor unrest.  

August 22 - Making the Skies Friendlier

On this day in Labor History the year was 1945. That was the day five women working for United Airlines formed the first union for airline stewardess.  Those women were Ada Brown, Frances Hall, Edith Lauterbach, Sally Thometz and Sally Watt.  

August 21 - Nat Turner’s Insurrection

On this day in Labor History the year was 1831. That was the year Nat Turner led a slave rebellion in Southhampton, Virginia. 

From a young age Turner believed he had a purpose ordained by God.  Turner had learned to read from one of his master’s sons.  

August 20 - The War on Poverty

On this day in Labor History the year was 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a mid-morning address in the Rose Garden of the White House.  He was there to sign the Economic Opportunity Act that launched what became known as Johnson’s War on Poverty.  

August 19 - Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent

On this day in Labor History the year was 1909.  That was the day that a committee of the Industrial Workers of the World in Spokane, Washington published the first edition of the “Little Red Song Book.” The collection were “Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent.” 

August 18 - WEVD Radio New York

On this day in Labor History the year was 1927.  That was the day that a new radio station began to broadcast on the New York dial. The station’s call letters were WEVD.  It stood for Eugene V. Debs.  The radio station was founded to honor the recently deceased Socialist and labor leader.  

August 17 - Jailed for Having an Idea

On this day in Labor History the year 1918. That was the day that 101 leaders of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) or Wobblies were convicted in a Chicago Federal Court.  Their alleged crime? 

August 16 - George Meany is Born

On this day in Labor History the year was 1894. That was the birthday of the long-time leader of the AFL-CIO. 

George Meany grew up in the Bronx, with his Irish Catholic family. 

August 15 - The End of Bretton Woods

On this day in Labor History the year was 1971. That Sunday, President Richard Nixon addressed the nation in a speech that preempted the popular television show, Bonanza.  His subject? The state of the economy. The speech was timed before the stock markets opened on Monday morning.