Tuesday, March 04, 2014

Today in Labor History

In his inaugural address, President Thomas Jefferson declares: “Take not from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.” - 1801
President William Howard Taft signs legislation creating the Department of Labor. Former United Mine Workers Secretary Treasurer William B. Wilson is named to lead the new department - 1913
President Franklin D. Roosevelt names a woman, Frances Perkins, to be secretary of labor. Perkins became the first female cabinet member in U.S. history - 1933
Machinists strike Eastern Airlines, are soon joined by flight attendants and pilots in the nationwide walkout. Owner Frank Lorenzo refuses to consider the unions’ demands; Eastern ultimately went out of business - 1989
Machinists strike Eastern Airlines, are soon joined by flight attendants and pilots in the nationwide walkout. Owner Frank Lorenzo refuses to consider the unions’ demands; Easternultimately went out of business - 1989 ~De
Eastern Airlines strike
was gain for all workers
(Books of the Month column)

Below is an excerpt from The Eastern Airlines Strike, one of Pathfinder's Books of the Month in January. On March 4, 1989, 8,500 members of the International Association of Machinists went on strike against Eastern Airlines. By the time the battle ended 22 months later, the rank-and-file Machinists had defeated Eastern's attempt to create a profitable nonunion airline. Ernie Mailhot was a ramp worker and cleaner at Eastern Airlines and a rank-and-file leader of the strike. Copyright © 1991 by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by permission. 

BY ERNIE MAILHOT

After 686 days on strike against Eastern Airlines, rank-and-file members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and our supporters registered the final piece of our victory against the union-busting drive of the employers when the carrier folded at midnight on January 18, 1991. 

Over the next few hours, strikers and our supporters showed up—many with handmade signs—at rowdy picket lines. The sign I think expressed our feelings the best was the one at the Miami airport that read, "We said we'd last 'One day longer.'"
To strikers and other working people, the scope of the accomplishments and victories scored in the Eastern strike are measured by what we were up against....
http://www.themilitant.com/2007/7103/710349.html

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