Today in Labor History December 3, 1854: State troopers killed 22-60 gold miners in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, in Victoria, Australia. The miners had revolted against the colonial authority of the UK in a conflict over expensive mining licenses and abuses by local police and military. Public opinion was so much in support of the miners that all captured survivors were released from prison and the government passed the electoral Act 1856, giving suffrage for all male colonists.
Today in Labor History December 3, 1866: Textile workers struck and won a 10-hour work day in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Today in Labor History December 3, 1910: The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organized their Brotherhood of Timber Workers on this date.
Today in Labor History December 3, 1916: Seven Australian IWW members were sentenced to 15 years in prison for their anti-war efforts. Other IWW members were sentenced to 5 and 10 years. In August, 1917, the IWW was outlawed in Australia and its membership rolls were made available to employers, many of whom refused to hire anyone on the list.
Today in Labor History December 3, 1946: Female retail clerks launched the Oakland General Strike, the last General Strike to occur in the U.S. Other workers soon joined in. Over 100,000 workers participated.
Today in Labor History December 3, 1971: Pakistan launched a preemptive strike against India, leading to a full-scale war.
Today in Labor History December 3, 1984: A methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, killed over 3,800 people and injured up to 600,000 more. Up to 16,000 people died, in total, over the years following the disaster. The Government of Madhya Pradesh has paid compensation to family members of 3,787 of the victims killed. Numerous local activist groups emerged to support the victims of the disaster, like Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, who won the Goldman Prize in 2004. Many of the activists were subjected to violent repression by the police and government. Larger international groups, like Greenpeace and Pesticide Action Network also got involved. The disaster has played a role in numerous works of fiction, including Arundhati Roy’s “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness” (2017) and Indra Sinha’s “Animal’s People” (2007). It has also been referenced in music by the Revolting Cocks “Union Carbide” and the Dog Faced Hermans ”Bhopal.”