Today in Labor History

December 20   --  SOURCE: Union Communications Services, Inc.

Delegates to the AFL convention in Salt Lake City endorse a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote - 1899

The first group of 15 Filipino plantation workers recruited by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association arrive in Hawaii. By 1932 more than 100,000 Filipinos will be working in the fields - 1906

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) takes effect today - 1970

(Tools of the Trade: A Health and Safety Handbook for Action: This 180-page book, published in 2006, is a valuable resource for those who want to promote worker health and safety while building their unions and community groups at the same time.)

Thousands of workers began what was to be a two-day strike of the New York City transit system over retirement, pension and wage issues. The strike violated the state’s Taylor Law; TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint was jailed for ten days and the union was fined $2.5 million - 2005

Working Class Heroes

#SOLIDARITY! from our friend Kim A: "This is my take as a union member on the Right to Work propaganda being just forced down the throats of Michigan workers:

Gee, if you've bought into this lie you must have forgotten the people who fought and died to give others a five day work week, guaranteed health/ pension benefits, safe work places, paid days off, child labor laws to name a few! Fact check that! While you're at it look at the living conditions of workers in the 20 plus states that have right to work laws and you'll find that those workers have lower wages, less benefits and collect more in government aid than other states! Stop being a "sheep" for the corporations and wake up! The more RTW states we have the more corporate profits go up, workers standard of living go down and burden on tax payers increase. Ignorance isn't bliss-at least not for those with a brain! :)"