Labor History

Today in Labor History January 30, 1836: Gustave Lefrancaise (1826-1901) was born. Lefrancais was a French revolutionary member of the First International. He participated in the Partis Commune and cofounded the anarchist Jura Federation. Today in Labor History January 30, 1909: Organizer Saul Alinsky was born in Chicago, Illinois. He worked with the Industrial Areas […]

1830s Today in Labor History January 29, 1834: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal workers rioted. President Jackson sent in troops to quell the unrest. It was the first time the government used troops to suppress a domestic labor dispute. Workers were rebelling because of terrible working conditions and low pay. George Washington had designed the canal

Today in Labor History January 28, 1861: The first national coal miners union, the American Miners Association, was founded. January 28, 1909: U.S. troops finally left Cuba for good. They had been there 11 years, since the Spanish American War, in 1898. Of course, they remained in a tiny corner of the island, known as

Today in Labor History January 27, 1825:  U.S. Congress approved Indian Territory in what is present-day Oklahoma. This paved the way for the Trail of Tears forced relocation of native Americans, which killed 4000-6000 indigenous men, women and children. 1850s Today in Labor History January 27, 1850: Samuel Gompers, president and founder of the American

Today in Labor History January 26, 1808: Soldiers took over New South Wales, Australia, during the Rum Rebellion. It was Australia’s only military coup. At the time, NSW was a British penal colony. William Bligh was governor of the territory. This was the same William Bligh who was overthrown in the Mutiny on the Bounty,