1910s-1950s Today in Labor History February 5, 1917: U.S. Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Wilson’s veto. Also known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, it was one of many anti-Asian laws passed by Congress between the 1860s and World War II. However, there were plenty of other xenophobic, nativist and anti-left […]

Today in Labor History February 4, 1794: The French legislature abolished slavery throughout all the regions of the French First Republic. However, in 1802, they reestablished slavery in the French West Indies. 1860s-1890s Today in Labor History February 4, 1869: Labor leader and Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) co-founder William D. “Big Bill” Haywood was born. Haywood started mining

Today in Labor History February 3, 1908: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that union boycotts violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. 1910s Today in Labor History February 3, 1910: Mary Harris “Mother” Jones addressed Milwaukee brewery workers during a two-month stint working alongside women bottle-washers while on leave from the United Mine Workers: “Condemned to slave

Today in Labor History February 2, 1438: The authorities executed nine leaders of the Transylvanian Peasant Revolt. The uprising began in 1437 in the eastern territories of the Kingdom of Hungary. The revolt broke out after the bishop of Transylvania tried to collect years’ worth of tithes all at once. The peasants were already furious

Today in Labor History February 1, 1835: Mauritius abolished slavery. 1860s Today in Labor History February 1, 1864: The Collar Laundry Union formed in Troy, New York. The Collar Union was the first all-female labor union in the U.S. Women typically worked 12-14 hours per day under dangerous conditions. Led by Kate Mullany, the union