Today in Labor History

Septemeber 13  --  Union Communications Services, Inc.

Eleven AFSCME-represented prison employees, 33 inmates die in four days of rioting at New York State’s Attica Prison and the retaking of the prison. The riot caused the nation to take a closer look at prison conditions, for inmates and their guards alike - 1971

The Post Office Department orders 25,000 railway mail clerks to shoot to kill any bandits attempting to rob the mail - 1926 ~De

They also issued a statement saying that if the robberies continue the U.S. Marines would be bought to protect the mail.

According to John Ruch, "Bandits were after registered mail—documented and insured letters and packages—which often contained cash or securities. Often this mail was simply a bag of cash. Mailed cash included company payrolls, transfers from the Federal Reserve to regional banks, and transactions between banks, companies and private citizens."

He goes on to say, "Thieves were also interested in the safe in the 'express car,' which carried packages (not necessarily mail) being shipped by the fastest possible route. It could contain gold, silver, jewels, cash, commercial goods (gold watches, silk dresses) and negotiable bonds and securities. Much of the gold and silver was bullion going from mines to banks or assay offices."
http://www.stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com/2011/09/mail-clerks-armed-in-1926.html