Today in Labor History: August 13
Striking miners at Tracy City, Tenn., capture their mines and free 300 state convict strikebreakers. The convicts had been “leased” to mine-owners by officials in an effort to make prisons self-supporting and make a few bucks for the state. The practice started in 1866 and lasted for 30 years – 1892
Newspaper Guild members begin three-month strike of Hearst-owned Seattle Post-Intelligencer, shutting the publication down in their successful fight for union recognition – 1936
Civil rights leader and union president A. Philip Randolph strongly protests the AFL-CIO Executive Council’s failure to endorse the August 28 “March on Washington” – 1963
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Labor Quiz: A. Philip Randolph
This Week’s Quiz: Early in his career, labor and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph organized a union of what kind of workers in New York City? Subway workers, newsboys, or elevator operators? Click here and you could be next week’s winner!
Last Week’s Quiz: In 1944 Cesar Chavez joined the United States Navy at the age of seventeen for what he later called “the two worst years of my life.” Chavez had hoped that he would learn skills in the Navy that would help him later in civilian life, but he soon discovered that Mexican-Americans in the Navy in those days could only work as deckhands or painters. Congrats to Diane Hacker of UFCW Local 1428, Rialto, CA, this week’s quiz winner!
Labor Quote: Teamwork and Solidarity
“Teamwork in the leadership, solidarity in the ranks.”
– Originator unknown; thanks to IBEW Local 55′s Mike Sawyer for bringing it to our attention.
GOT QUOTE? Click Here to send us your favorite labor quote and we’ll consider it for future posts!
