Today in Labor History November 14

Today in Labor History November 14, 1903: The National Women’s Trade Union League formed in Boston. They fought to get more women unionized and to end sweat shops. They supported many of the major strikes of the 1900s-1910s and helped pave the way for the ILGWU and ACWA. They were influenced by the settlement house movement and Jane Adams.

1910s

November 14, 1916: The authorities arrested Margaret Sanger for operating a birth control clinic. She also created the American Birth Control League, 1921, which would later become Planned Parenthood. Ironically, she opposed abortions and, as a nurse, refused to participate in them. She also supported eugenics.

Today in Labor History November 14, 1918: Striking workers were gunned down in Granges, Switzerland. It was during a General Strike of over 250,000 workers. Some of their demands were universal women’s suffrage, a 48-hour week, old age and disability insurance, and forcing the rich to pay off the nation’s debt.

1930s-1940s

November 14, 1938: The National Federation of Telephone Workers was founded in New Orleans, later becoming the Communications Workers of America, which is now one of the largest unions in the United States.

Today in Labor History November 14, 1942: Japanese-American prisoners attacked a man believed to be an informer at the Poston concentration camp, in Yuma, AZ. The authorities arrested two popular inmates, leading to a giant strike by prisoners. A similar uprising took place at the Manzanar concentration camp, in California, the following month.

1970s

November 14, 1973: The Athens Polytechnic uprising began. It was a massive student protest against the Greek military junta of 1967–74. Up to 420 civilians were killed, including several children. Slogans and banners were anti-NATO and anti-American, and likened the Greek Junta to the Nazis. The pro-Soviet Marxist student groups A-AFEE refused to participate. Leftists and Anarchists initiated a sit-in, demanding the abolition of capitalism. Other student groups only demanded a restoration of democracy.