Today in Labor History: October 25
25,000 silk dye workers strike in Paterson, NJ – 1934
In what becomes known as the Great Hawaiian Dock Strike, a six-month struggle to win wage parity with mainland dock workers, ends in victory – 1949
The Tribune Co. begins a brutal five-month-long lockout at the New York Daily News, part of an effort to bust the newspaper’s unions – 1990
John Sweeney, president of the Service Employees Intl. Union, elected president of AFL-CIO – 1995
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Labor Book: Kids on Strike!
This is a fascinating and amazing book. Kids on Strike! tells the story of children who stood up for their rights against powerful company owners. Nearly two million children were in the U.S. workforce by the early 1900s. Their tiny fingers, strong eyesight, and boundless energy made them perfect employees. But after years and years of working long hours every day under inhumane conditions, they began to organize and make demands in order to protect themselves.
Labor Humor: Interviewing Tips
Vice Presidents and personnel directors of the one hundred largest corporations were asked to describe their most unusual experience interviewing prospective employees; here are some of their picks: “What is it that you people do at this company?” “Do I have to dress for the next interview?” “Why aren’t you in a more interesting business?” Applicant interrupted interview to phone her therapist for advice on how to answer specific interview questions.
