Today In Labor History April 5

Today In Labor History April 5, 1871: During the Paris Commune, the government captured Élisée Reclus on this day. Later, they banished him from France for life. Reclus was a geographer, writer and anarchist. He influenced evolutionary biologist, Alfred Wallace, as well as many authors, and the famous anarchist, Peter Kropotkin. In 1894, he became chair of the geology department at the University of Brussels.

1950s

April 5, 1951: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were sentenced to death.

Today In Labor History April 5, 1954: Workers struck the Kohler Company in Wisconsin. The walkout was part ongoing labor disputes that lasted 30 years at the company. There had also been strikes from 1934 to 1941 and another, from 1954 to 1960. The latest dispute lasted until December, 1965, with the company agreeing to pay $4.5 million in back wages and pension credits.

April 5, 1956: An assailant threw acid in the face of newspaper columnist Victor Riesel in New York City. Riesel crusaded against mob control of unions. He also informed for the FBI for decades and supported McCarthy-era blacklisting that weakened unions.

Today In Labor History April 5, 1956: Fidel Castro declared himself at war with Cuban president Bautista.

April 5, 1957: Communists won the first elections in a united Kerala, India.

1969-1989

Today In Labor History April 5, 1969: Massive anti-war demonstrations occurred throughout the U.S.

April 5, 1989: The United Mine Workers launched their strike against Pittston Coal Co. They eventually won concessions on February 20, 1990. The strike started in response to Pittston’s termination of healthcare for widows, retirees and disabled veteran miners. During the strike, there were 2,000 miners camped out daily at Camp Solidarity. Up to 40,000 engaged in wildcat strikes, civil disobedience, picketing, occupations and sabotage. The strike reduced Pittston’s production by two-thirds. Over 4,000 strikers were arrested during the strike.

1990s-2010s

Today In Labor History April 5, 1997: Poet Allen Ginsberg died.

April 5, 2001: 14,000 teachers struck at Hawaiian schools and colleges.

April 5, 2010: An explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, W. Va., killed 29 miners. It was the worst U.S. mine disaster in 40 years. Massey Energy Company owned the mine. Regulators cited them for two safety infractions the day before the blast. In the month prior, regulators gave them 57 citations for safety infractions, and 1,342 in the previous five years. A judge later sentenced Don Blankenship, Massey’s CEO, to one year in jail, which he served. His sentence equaled 12.5 days for each of the 29 miners killed.