“Times have changed since Christ’s day. A rich man today who gives all he has to the poor is crazy. There is no discussion. Society has spoken.” - Jack London, American novelist, journalist, workers' rights and social justice activist
Wednesday, Jan 8:
The AFL Iron and Steel Organizing Committee ends the “Great Steel Strike”. 400,000 steelworkers had been striking for more than 3 months, demanding union recognition. The greedy Capitalists falsely accused the exploited workers of being “Communists” and “un-American” for wanting fair wages and less deadly working conditions. -1920
In San Jose, California teachers joined with striking students to oppose the Vietnam War. -1969
Thursday, Jan 9:
A Commission appointed by President Woodrow Wilson finds that "industry’s failure to deal with unions" is the prime reason for labor strife in war industries. -1918
The administration of George W. Bush declares federal airport security screeners will not be allowed to unionize so as not to "complicate" his “war on terrorism”. The decision was challenged and eventually overturned after Bush left office. - 2003
Friday, Jan 10:
In what is described as the worst industrial disaster in state history, the Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Mass., collapses, trapping 900 workers, mostly Irish women. More than 100 die, scores more injured in the collapse and ensuing fire. Too much heavy machinery had been crammed into the building. (Before our pesky Federal regulations could get in the way of company profits). -1860
Former AFL-CIO President George Meany dies at age 85. The one-time plumber led the labor federation from the time of the AFL and CIO merger in 1955 until shortly before his death. -1980
Saturday, Jan 11:
The IWW-organized “Bread & Roses” textile strike of 32,000 women and children begins in Lawrence, Mass. IWW leaders Bill Haywood and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn help lead the strike. It lasted 10 weeks and ended in victory. The legislature cut maximum working hours for women and children from 56 to 54 hours per week and the employers had cut their pay along with the hours. The first mill-workers to walk out were Polish women, who, upon collecting their pay, exclaimed that they had been cheated and promptly abandoned their looms. Many were forced to send their children to live with supporters living in New York during the strike. -1912
Nearly two weeks into a sit-down strike at GM’s Fisher Body Plant No. 2 in Flint, Mich., workers battle police when they try to prevent the strikers from receiving food deliveries from thousands of supporters on the outside. 16 strikers and 11 police were injured. The strikers were hit by buckshot fired by police riot guns; the police were injured principally by thrown nuts, bolts, door hinges and other auto parts. The incident became known as the “Battle of the Running Bulls”. -1936
Sunday, Jan 12:
Novelist Jack London is born. His classic definition of a scab - someone who would cross a picket line and take a striker's job: "After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a cork-screw soul, a water-logged brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles". -1876
President John F. Kennedy signs Executive Order 10988, guaranteeing federal workers the right to join unions and bargain collectively. -1962
Monday, Jan 13:
The original Tompkins Square Riot. As unemployed workers demonstrated in New York's Tompkins Square Park, a detachment of mounted police charged into the crowd, beating men, women and children with billy clubs. Declared Abram Duryee, the Commissioner of Police: "It was the most glorious sight I ever saw..." -1874
IWW organizer and singer/songwriter Joe Hill is falsely accused and arrested for killing two men during a grocery store hold-up in Utah. He ultimately is executed by firing squad (His last word was “Fire!”) despite overwhelming evidence that he was framed and condemned solely for his association with the Industrial Workers of the World. When he was arrested was smiling and joked “I'm feeling pretty smart, and I'm also thinking about what I am going to do with that money at the end of the year." -1914
Tuesday, Jan 14:
A Brooklyn trolley strike began on this date (lasting until Feb. 28). The militia was called out and martial law declared in order to suppress it. Members of the Knights of Labor battled militiamen in the streets. -1895
14,000 General Electric employees strike for two days to protest the company’s mid-contract decision to shift an average of $400 in additional health care co-payments onto each worker. -2003
This Week in Labor History is compiled by Kevin D. Curtis.
