Labor History in 2:00

November 8 - The New Orleans General Strike

On this day in Labor History the year was 1892. That was the day that black and white workers in New Orleans began what is considered the first integrated general strike in United States history. The strike began when the New Orleans Board of Trade refused to enter into an agreement with the Teamsters Union because it included black members. 

November 7 - The Death of Boulware but Not Boulwarism

On this day in Labor History the year was 1990. That was the day that Lemuel Ricketts Boulware died.  Boulware had a notorious reputation with labor leaders. He was the Vice President for employee relations for General Electric during the 1950s. 

November 6 - Lincoln Stands with Labor

On this day in Labor History the year was 1860. That was the day that Abraham Lincoln was elected sixteenth President of the United States. When Lincoln came to office the nation was deeply divided on the question of slavery. By December 20, South Carolina had seceded from the United States.  

November 5 - Eugene V Debs is Born

On this day in Labor History the year was 1855. That was the day that Eugene Debs was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.  Debs was forced to leave school when he was just fourteen.  He worked as a railroad fireman.  

November 4 - No Milk Today

Got milk?  If you lived in Neillsville, Wisconsin the answer might have been NO. On this day in labor history the year was 1933.  Wisconsin is known as the dairy state.

November 3 - The Streets Run Wild with Milk

On this day in Labor History the year was 1921. That was the day the New York Times headline proclaimed:  “Striker Rioting All Over the City, Dump Thousands of Gallons of Milk; Hylan Threatens to Seize plants.”  Hylan referred to New York City Mayor John Francis Hylan.  

November 2 - Murdered on the Pier

On this day in Labor History the year was 1928. That was the day that police shot at protesting union workers at Prince’s Pier in Melbourne Australia. Three union workers were injured, one fatally. 

November 1 - America’s First General Strike

On this day in Labor History the year was 1835. That was the day that workers in Philadelphia organized what was the first general strike in North America. There call was for a ten-hour workday. 

October 31 - Happy Union Made Halloween

On this day in Labor History ghosts and goblins are going door to door to gather up candy.  But did you know that some of that candy is made by union workers? 

In Hershey, Pennsylvania, tagged the Sweetest place on earth you’ll find the nation’s chocolate center.

It wasn’t always so sweet for workers who in 1937 tried to win union recognition. 

Then the company laid off some of the union organizers, and claimed it was due to seasonal cutbacks. 

Outraged, 600 workers began a sit-down strike in the plant. 

Local dairy farmers relied on Hershey to purchase their milk. 

They grew increasingly angry at the strikers. 

They joined with workers not participating in the strike, and other community members. 

The angry mob stormed the plant to oust the strikers. 

Twenty-five strikers were severely beaten and the sit-in strike ended. 

But the next year, the Hershey workers tried again to form a union. 

This time they affiliated with the Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International Union of America and established Local 464. 

They are not the only union members who help make Halloween sweet. 

Today the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union Local 1 in Chicago, Illinois makes tootsie rolls. 

If your candy of choice is Clark Bars or Thin Mints, you might want to thank a member of Local 348 in Cambridge Massachusetts. 

And Local 125 makes Ghirardelli Chocolate in San Francisco. 

Unfortunately things are not always so sweet. In September of 2016, 400 union workers at the Just Born candy factory in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania went out on strike.  The company decided to change their pensions to 401ks for new hires and reduce health care contributions. 

They make such iconic candies as Peeps, Mike & Ike’s, and Hot Tamales.  

One strike slogan rang out “no pensions, no peeps!”

October 30 - Another Front in Reagan’s War on Workers

On this day in Labor History the year was 1986. That was the day that Edward Meese, gave a speech to the US Chamber of Commerce. Meese was serving as Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan. During the speech, Meese encouraged bosses to spy on their employees, in order to determine if they were using drugs.