Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Today in Labor History

August 29

75 workers die when the lower St. Lawrence River’s Quebec Bridge collapses while under construction. A flawed design was found to be the cause. 13 more workers were killed nine years later when the reconstructed bridge’s central span was being raised and fell into the river because of a problem with hoisting devices - 1907

Dancers at San Francisco’s Lusty Lady Club vote 57-15 to be represented by SEIU Local 790. Their first union contract, ratified eight months later, guaranteed work shifts, protection against arbitrary discipline and termination, automatic hourly wage increases, sick days, a grievance procedure, and removal of one-way mirrors from peep show booths - 1996

Northwest Airlines pilots, after years of concessions to help the airline, begin what is to become a two-week strike for higher pay - 1998

Delegates to the Minnesota AFL-CIO convention approve the launching of workdayminnesota.org, now in its 12th year. It was the first web-based daily labor news service by a state labor federation - 2000
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Charlie Lindamood, WCH Contributor and Florida firebrand progressive truth seeker writes about building America; across broad rivers, to dizzying heights - workers and unions! today at 'Working Class Heroes' blog ....

"They labored and worked with home made tools. They didn’t clear the land with bulldozers or cut timber for ties with power saws.They used manual saws and axes. They cleared the land and forged paths for rail through mountains and searing hot deserts, with mules and horses instead of tractors and trucks. Their experience in building railroads and the terrible conditions under which they labored eventually gave rise to the first American union representing railroad workers." - excerpt
 

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