Meredith, America’s largest magazine publisher, is laying off 1,200 and plans to sell the Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and Money brands, the company announced.
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Friday, March 30, 2018
Today in Labor History
Harry Bridges
Chicago stockyard workers won an 8-hour day. – 1918
30,000 unemployed people marched in New York City. At the time, there was virtually no formal or institutional aid available for the unemployed or poor. Even the AFL did not support unemployment insurance, as it saw itself as the representative of skilled workers only, and could care less about the unskilled and factory workers. Another reason for the lack of government support for the unemployed was that working conditions were so terrible the ruling elite feared that workers would choose the dole over work if given the choice. In New York, police attacked the marchers. – 1930
Construction began on the Hawks Nest Tunnel. 3,000 mostly African-American migrant workers were hired to complete the project. To save time and money, they were not provided with proper safety equipment to work on cutting rock that had been discovered to have a high silica content. The official death toll from silicosis was 476, with estimates as high as 700 to 1,000. It was considered to be one of the worst industrial disasters in U.S. history. – 1930
The federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act was enacted. – 1970
The United Farm Workers signed the first table grape contract with two growers. – 1970
Harry Bridges, Australian-born dock union leader, died at age 88. He helped form and lead the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for 40 years. A Bridges quote: “The most important word in the language of the working class is ‘solidarity’”. – 1990
Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild announced that the membership had voted to merge with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, creating the 150,000-member SAG-AFTRA. – 2012
Wenatchee newspaper sold to Ariz. company
Wenatchee newspaper sold to Ariz. company The Wenatchee World, which has been published by the Woods family for 111 years, has been sold to Wick Communications, a third-generation family owned and operated media corporation, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.
The announcement was made Thursday by World Publisher Rufus G. Woods and Wick Chief Executive Officer Francis Wick. The asset sale, for an undisclosed amount, will take effect Saturday.
The announcement was made Thursday by World Publisher Rufus G. Woods and Wick Chief Executive Officer Francis Wick. The asset sale, for an undisclosed amount, will take effect Saturday.
Friday Morning in the Blogosphere
Unsold newspapers
Is Journalism a Form of Activism? - Longreads
The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant - New York Times
We Must Never Let Newspapers Die - The Morning Call
Stop the tariffs: Digital news depends on print - thepress.net
The journalist's quick guide to surviving April Fools' Day - Poynter
Winner best use of a podcast Los Angeles Times “Dirty John” - DigiDay
Meet the journalist tracking Digital First Media’s hedge fund owner - CJR
Tariffs, paper shortage combine for financial pressure on newspapers - Tampa Bay Times
Facebook starts fact checking photos/videos, blocks millions of fake accounts - Tech Crunch
Thursday, March 29, 2018
North Dakota papers to charge for political endorsement letters to the editor
North Dakota-based newspapers owned by Forum Communications will charge for political endorsement letters to the editor beginning April 1, the Forum-owned Bismarck Tribune reported.
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Stop The Presses Trailer
STOP THE PRESSES: FILM DOCUMENTS END OF ‘LIFE, PRINTED DAILY’ AT THE TAMPA TRIBUNE
TAMPA, Fla. (March 21, 2017) – The Tampa Tribune may be gone, but those who worked at Tampa’s hometown newspaper have not let the ink dry on the industry they love or the community it served.
Stop the Presses, an 83-minute documentary chronicles the last press run and eventual demise of “Ma Trib” on May 3, 2016.
Filmmaker Deborah Kerr and her crew were filming a day in the life of a newspaper when the company unraveled and its owners sold the 121-year-old institution to a longtime local competitor, thus ending the bay area’s newspaper war and decades-long careers for hundreds of reporters, photographers, editors and pressmen.
In the film, viewers will hear from former employees in News, Advertising, Circulation, Packaging and the Press Room about the stark reality of what is happening in the newspaper industry, and its effect on the more than 600 employees whose lives were changed forever by the closing of this Tampa landmark and the readers left bereft of community news when The Tribune stopped hitting their driveway.
"This is an important story to be told -- especially since The Tribune didn't get to write its own obituary," said Kerr, the movie's director, producer and head of Be Brave Productions. "I want people to realize the impact of newspapers on our daily lives and to show the dedication and commitment of those who breathe life into newspapers 365 days a year. With charges of 'fake news' taking root, the light needs to shine on these dedicated people who brought readers stories from the world and their own back yards."
Filmmaker Deborah Kerr and her crew were filming a day in the life of a newspaper when the company unraveled and its owners sold the 121-year-old institution to a longtime local competitor, thus ending the bay area’s newspaper war and decades-long careers for hundreds of reporters, photographers, editors and pressmen.
In the film, viewers will hear from former employees in News, Advertising, Circulation, Packaging and the Press Room about the stark reality of what is happening in the newspaper industry, and its effect on the more than 600 employees whose lives were changed forever by the closing of this Tampa landmark and the readers left bereft of community news when The Tribune stopped hitting their driveway.
"This is an important story to be told -- especially since The Tribune didn't get to write its own obituary," said Kerr, the movie's director, producer and head of Be Brave Productions. "I want people to realize the impact of newspapers on our daily lives and to show the dedication and commitment of those who breathe life into newspapers 365 days a year. With charges of 'fake news' taking root, the light needs to shine on these dedicated people who brought readers stories from the world and their own back yards."
Employees at Lee-owned Montana paper file to form union
The 10 non-management employees of the Lee Enterprises-owned Missoula Independent filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board March 19 to begin the process of forming a union, the Missoula News Guild Organizing Committee announced.
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Today in Labor History
Ohio made it illegal for children under 18 and women to work more than 10 hours a day. – 1852
Sam Walton, founder of the huge and bitterly anti-union Wal-Mart empire, was born on this date in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He once said that his priority was to “Buy American”, but Wal-Mart is now the largest U.S. importer of foreign-made goods, often produced under sweatshop conditions. – 1918
The U.S. Supreme Court, in West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, upheld the constitutionality of minimum wage legislation enacted by the State of Washington, overturning a decision in 1923 that held that federal minimum wage legislation for women was an unconstitutional infringement of liberty of contract. The case was brought by Elsie Parrish, a hotel housekeeper who lost her job and did not receive back wages in line with the state’s minimum wage for women law. – 1937
The “Battle of Wall Street” occurred as police charged strikers lying down in front of stock exchange doors. 43 were arrested. – 1948
The National Maritime Union of America merged with the National Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association. – 1988
Tensor replaces Solna press in France
The sale of two 4-high towers completes the final phase of replacing a Solna D300 pressline at La Societe Cherbourgeoise d’Editions in Cherbourg, France.
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Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere
Skidrow Cleanup meets every Saturday and sweeps many blocks of the dirtiest areas of Skidrow. They can be found on Facebook if you would be interested in volunteering
2 central Virginia community newspapers closing down - WTOP
Attack on newspapers is an attack on us all - Scottsbluff Star Herald
Visitors To 'Reader's Digest' Site Soar 179% Year-To-Year - MediaPost
Lessons learned from the BBC's global editorial transformation - Editors Weblog
These journalists help deliver a community newspaper on the weekends - Poynter
Tariffs on Canadian newsprint taking toll on American newspapers - Tribune-Review
Steamboat Pilot and Today to be distributed free on Sundays - Steamboat Pilot and Today
The Forecaster owner to acquire newspapers in Brunswick, Biddeford - KeepMEcurrent.com
Dallas Morning News laid off five of its editorial department employees today - Central Track
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Google launches $300 million News Initiative
Google has launched the Google News Initiative (GNI), “our effort to help journalism thrive in the digital age,” the company announced March 20.
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THE ‘GHOST NEWSPAPERS’ ARE HERE
By Julie Reynolds
Shuttering papers and turning them into weekly inserts is accelerating the rise of news deserts, researcher says
TKS to close office in Dallas
Effective March 31, TKS will be closing its office in Dallas. TKS manufactures and sells a wide range of offset and digital printing presses as well as material handling and post press equipment.
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Today in Labor History
Emma Goldman was arrested for giving a lecture on contraceptives. Goldman believed that knowledge of and access to contraceptives was key to women’s ability to control their own bodies and thus their social and material well being. – 1915
Members of the Gas House Workers’ Union Local 18799 began what was to become a four-month recognition strike against the Laclede Gas Light Company in St. Louis. The union later said the strike was the first ever against a public utility in the U.S. – 1935
Martin Luther King led a march of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. Police attacked the workers with mace and sticks. A 16-year old boy was shot and 280 workers were arrested. He was assassinated a few days later after speaking to the striking workers. The sanitation workers were mostly black. They worked for starvation wages under plantation like conditions, generally under racist white bosses. Workers could be fired for being one minute late or for talking back and they got no breaks. Organizing escalated in the early 1960s and reached its peak in February 1968, when two workers were crushed to death in the back of a garbage truck. – 1968
Quad/Graphics becomes majority owner of Chicago marketing firm
Sussex-Wisconsin based Quad/Graphics has increased its equity position in Rise Interactive, acquiring a majority ownership stake in the award-winning digital marketing agency, Quad announced March 21.
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Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere
On May 29th we return to the Philippines for one month
Editorial: Tariffs on newsprint a threat to newspapers - The Daily Herald
Editorial: Newspaper tariffs will hurt everyone in the US - Aiken Standard
Who Are The Major Shareholders In FP Newspapers Inc? - Simply Wall St.
Maybe newspapers aren't so washed up - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
In Syria, Where Jobs Are Scarce, Journalism Becomes a Means of Survival - CJR
Paper and postal rate increases are kicking the print industry while it's down - Poynter
Here’s what the Boston Herald’s new owner has done to other newspapers - Boston.com
Walmart to remove 'Cosmopolitan' from checkout lines amid Me Too movement - USA Today
There are two newspapers in Chicago, but only one works as hard as you - Chicago Sun-Times
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
More than 30 U.K. print jobs may go
More than 30 jobs in the U.K. may be lost after Gannett-owned Newsquest announced plans to shutter the printing press of a publisher it bought, according to HoldtheFrontPage.
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California Pizza Kitchen fund for Pomona Officer Greg Casillas
Please consider having lunch or dinner @calpizzakitchen on Tuesday April 3rd. Anyone who visits California Pizza Kitchen and presents this flier will have 20% of their bill donated to a fund benefiting fallen Pomona Officer Greggory Casillas’ young family. Don’t forget the flier!
Sample News Group buying Vermont papers
The Sample News Group is buying the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus and Rutland Herald (Vermont) from Vermont Community Media, the Herald reports.
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Metro Production Conference to focus on streamlining
This year, the Metro Production Conference will focus on helping Newspapers streamline production to help save costs, according to organizers.
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Stop Tariffs on Printers and Publishers (STOPP)
what is the issue?
A single paper supplier, NORPAC, is trying to manipulate the trade laws and convince the government to assess tariffs on Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood paper, which includes newsprint. Publishers and printers will not be able to absorb these tariffs and will be forced to cut costs that will ultimately result in fewer American jobs.
Today in Labor History
Mother Jones was ordered to leave Colorado, where state authorities accused her of “stirring up” striking coal miners. – 1904
This day marked the start of the 8-month Northern railway strike in Canada by the IWW. Wobblies picketed employment offices in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Tacoma and Minneapolis in order to block the hiring of scabs. – 1912
Fellow workers pay attention to what I’m going to mention,
For it is the fixed intention of the Workers of the World.
And I hope you’ll all be ready, true-hearted, brave and steady,
To gather ’round our standard when the red flag is unfurled.
CHORUS:
Where the Fraser river flows, each fellow worker knows,
They have bullied and oppressed us, but still our union grows.
And we’re going to find a way, boys, for shorter hours and better pay, boys
And we’re going to win the day, boys, where the river Fraser flows.
For these gunny-sack contractors have all been dirty actors,
And they’re not our benefactors, each fellow worker knows.
So we’ve got to stick together in fine or dirty weather,
And we will show no white feather, where the Fraser river flows.
Now the boss the law is stretching, bulls and pimps he’s fetching,
And they are a fine collection, as Jesus only knows.
But why their mothers reared them, and why the devil spared them,
Are questions we can’t answer, where the Fraser River flows.
(Lyrics by Joe Hill, 1912, to the tune of “Where the River Shannon Flows.”)
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that undocumented workers do not have the same rights as Americans when they are wrongly fired. – 2002
Sun Chemical to raise ink prices
Sun Chemical will raise prices on its offset inks, coatings and consumables across North America, effective February 15, according to the company. The company attributes the increase to recent price hikes in a variety of raw materials including carbon black, oil, and pigments.
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Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall paid a visit to San Dimas
Trump’s trade war targets newspapers, too - Sun Sentinel
Imagine If Gordon Gekko Bought News Empires - Bloomberg
Early newspapers in Effingham County - Effingham Daily News
GateHouse Media acquiring Gardner News - Worcester Telegram
Facebook Apologizes to Britons in Newspapers - Asharq Al-awsat
Block newsprint tariff effort to save newspapers - Charleston Post Courier
A forecast for local advertising — not good but some signs of stabilizing - Poynter
Newspaper carrier’s pick-up stolen, rolled during high-speed chase - Capital Journal
Majority of Gazette-Mail employees to keep jobs in HD Media purchase - Gazette-Mail
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Newspaper Readership Then, Now and in the Future
Newspapers in America have been assailed by digital technologies and a changing American lifestyle. What were the industry's game-changing historic moments? What's next for newspapers? WSJ's Jason Bellini reports. Image: Prelinger Archive
Media Note: Pennsylvania Chain to Buy Rutland Herald, Times Argus
The Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus are changing hands — again.
Sample News Group, a Pennsylvania-based chain of 75 newspapers, plans to buy the Vermont dailies by the end of the month, owners Reade Brower and Chip Harris said in a press release issued Thursday. The pair bought the Herald and Times Argus just 18 months ago from the Mitchell family, which had owned them for decades.
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Today in Labor History
Coxey’s Army (Common-Wealth Army) headed to Washington DC to demand economic reform. Coxey was a wealthy businessman and Populist who proposed a plan of federal work relief on public roads to be financed by Treasury notes to end the depression of 1893. When Congress refused to pass this bill, Coxey declared, We will send a petition to Washington with boots on“”.Coxey and his lieutenants were arrested by police and about 50 people were beaten or trampled. – 1894
A federal court issued the first injunction against a union under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The case was brought against the Workingman’s Amalgamated Council of New Orleans for interfering with commerce. The law was a major victory for bosses. – 1893
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed 146 people, mostly women and young girls who were working in sweatshop conditions. As tragic as this fire was for poor, working class women, it is estimated that over 100 workers died on the job each day in the U.S. in 1911. What was most significant was that this tragedy became a flashpoint for worker safety and public awareness of sweatshop conditions.
The Triangle workers had to work from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm, seven days a week. The work was almost non-stop. They got one break per day (30 minutes for lunch). For this they were paid only $6.00 per week. In some cases, they had to provide their own needles and thread. Furthermore, the women were locked inside the building to minimize time lost to bathroom breaks.
A year prior to the fire, 20,000 garment workers walked off the job at 500 clothing factories in New York to protest the deplorable working conditions. They demanded a 20% raise, a 52-hour work week and overtime pay. Over 70 smaller companies conceded to the union’s demands within the first 48 hours of the strike. However, the bosses at Triangle formed an employers’ association with the owners of the other large factories. Soon after, strike leaders were arrested. Some were fined. Others were sent to labor camps. Armed thugs were also enlisted to beat up and intimidate strikers. By the end of the month, almost all of the smaller factories had conceded to the union. By February, 1910, the strike was finally settled. – 1911
Heavy deposits of coal dust caused an explosion in the Centralia Coal Company’s Mine No. 5 in Centralia, Illinois, killing 111 of the 142 miners at work at the time. Following the disaster, UMWA President John L. Lewis invoked the union’s right to call memorial days and as a memorial to those killed at Centralia, the miners did not work for six days. – 1947
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled employers may sometimes favor women and members of minority groups over men and whites in hiring and promoting in order to achieve better balance in the workforce. – 1987
Saturday, March 24, 2018
German firm acquires Wisconsin B2B publisher
Wisconsin-based Trade Press Media Group has been acquired by Forum Media Group, based in Merching, Germany, Trade Press reports.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
B2B publisher Trade Press produces trade titles covering the facilities management, commercial cleaning and the U.S. rail industries.
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The storied history of newspapers
Do you know why some newspapers are called "gazettes," or what story the first American paper reported on? Here are some facts about the history of the newspaper.
STOPP coalition forms to fight tariffs
Members of the printing, publishing and paper-producing industries have formed Stop Tariffs on Printers and Publishers (STOPP), a coalition to fight proposed countervailing duties (CVD) and anti-dumping duties (AD) on imports of Canadian uncoated groundwood papers including newsprint and other papers.
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Today in Labor History
New York City Subway
Groundbreaking occurred on the first section of the New York City subway system, from City Hall to the Bronx. The New York subway workers would go on to found the TWU (Transport Workers Union) in 1934. The TWU established a reputation for left-wing politics and was one of the first unions to join the CIO. – 1900
7,500 hotel workers and members of HERE (Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union), Local 5 ended a 21 day strike of 11 major hotels in Hawaii. They stuck to protect their earned pension benefits. – 1990
Ferro retires as Tronc chair; Dearborn takes over
In news that will surprise many, Michael Ferro is retiring from the Tronc board of directors as the company prepares to close on the $500 million sale of the Los Angeles Times to local ownership, Tronc announced March 19. Justin Dearborn, CEO of Tronc, has been named chairman of the board of Tronc.
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Saturday Morning in the Blogosphere
The Los Angeles Times from 1st and Spring Streets
Used Carefully, Chatbots Can Be an Asset to Newsrooms - CJR
Tariffs on paper will hurt us, and our readers - Tampa Bay Times
BET boots journalist from Michelle Obama conference - Page Six
tronc (TRNC) – Analysts’ Weekly Ratings Changes - The Lincolnian
Will latest tronc rift end badly for Union-Tribune? - San Diego ReaderTariffs on paper will hurt us, and our readers - Tampa Bay Times
BET boots journalist from Michelle Obama conference - Page Six
tronc (TRNC) – Analysts’ Weekly Ratings Changes - The Lincolnian
Trade policy could devastate local newspapers - Las Cruces Sun-News
Newspapers deliver trustworthy information - The Columbus Dispatch
The business of selling newspapers, informing readers - Covington News
Owner Of Maine's Biggest Newspaper Buys More Publications - Maine Public
Are Newspapers Wrong in Downplaying Vulgar Language in Print? - Editor and Publisher
Friday, March 23, 2018
Denver Post lays off 30; union urges sale
The Denver Post announced cuts of 30 employees, about a third of newsroom staff, Westword reported. Post Editor Lee Ann Colacioppo announced the layoffs March 14.
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Today in Labor History
New York Postal Strike
101 Wobblies (members of the Industrial Workers of the World, IWW) went on trial in Chicago for opposing World War I. They were tried for violating the Espionage Act. In September 1917, 165 IWW leaders were arrested for conspiring to subvert the draft and encourage desertion. Their trial lasted five months, the longest criminal trial in American history up to that time. The jury found them all guilty. The judge sentenced Big Bill Haywood and 14 others to 20 years in prison. 33 others were given 10 years each. They were also fined a total of $2,500,000. The trial virtually destroyed the IWW. Haywood jumped bail and fled to the USSR, where he remained until his death 10 years later. – 1918
The Norris-La Guardia Act was passed, restricting injunctions against unions and banning yellow dog contracts, which require newly-hired workers to declare they are not union members and will not join one. – 1932
President Nixon declared a national emergency and ordered 30,000 troops to New York City to break the postal workers strike. The troops didn’t have a clue how to sort and deliver mail; a settlement came a few days later. – 1970
The Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded in Chicago by some 3,000 delegates from 58 unions and other organizations. – 1974
Fifteen workers died and another 170 were injured when a series of explosions ripped through BP’s Texas City refinery. Investigators blamed a poor safety culture at the plant and found BP management gave priority to cost savings over worker safety. – 2005
Don't tell them you are a reporter
Don't tell them you are a reporter More than a dozen city employees have confirmed that they have been instructed not to talk to reporters and many say they are afraid of retaliation if they do, even though they are allowed to talk with other citizens and residents. Questions and messages from reporters must go to the city’s Communications Department or to the city’s NextRequest system, which failed to find any documents that suspend the use of maintenance assessment districts.
Friday Morning in the Blogosphere
Royce Hall at UCLA
Want to be a foreign correspondent? - Poynter
Has the newspaper come yet? - Nevada Herald
Is Tronc about to go on the market? - Ken Doctor
Bad for newspapers, bad for America - Citizen Tribune
Craigslist Is Shutting Down Its Personals Section - Gizmoto
Newsprint duties could hurt small newspapers - Gilroy Dispatch
News publishers are giving personalization a fresh look - DigiDay
Press Herald owner Reade Brower will buy newspapers - Press Herald
Local news isn’t dying out: It’s being killed off by corporate greed - Salon
Trailblazing black journalist Les Payne showed no fear in pursuit of the truth - The Undefeated
Polish Daily Gazeta Wyborcza Smashed Through its Digital Subscriptions Target - Journalism UK
How the New York Times is Convincing Commercial Partners to Pay For its Journalism - The Drum
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Where's my newspaper?
I understand the men and women that have the daunting task of distributing ten different newspapers to their subscribers, have their hands full, so if I miss a newspaper now and then I don't too upset.
With the costs of the hard copy of the daily newspaper skyrocketing due to fuel, ink, and newsprint prices, one has to wonder how the newspaper as we know it, will survive?
I contacted the Los Angeles Times regarding two missing issues, here's the response I received:
mdeve012 customer_service@latimes.cust-serv.com
via sitel.com
Mar. 4
Dear Mr. Padgett,
Thank you for contacting the Los Angeles Times.
We are truly sorry for the delay in responding to your
email. Due to the unexpected volume of emails coming in,
our response time is longer than usual.
Re: Account # 10080042082
We are sorry to hear that your newspapers were not
delivered. We will notify the distributor who services your
area to ensure delivery everyday. Unfortunately, February 13
and March 2 is no longer available for redelivery.
Your account has been credited.
To access February 13 and March 2, 2018 paper, here’s a link
to our eNewspaper; a complete digital replica
of the printed paper. Please click on the hamburger icon or
the 3 horizontal lines on the upper right hand corner,
under 'Edition Options', click on 'Archive' and select the
issue of the paper.
Again, please accept our sincerest apologies.
http://enewspaper.latimes.com/desktop/latimes/gratis.aspx?token=0448652db35f4c71825b36ad8038a344
If there are any additional questions regarding your subscription, please feel free to contact us at:
213 283-2274 or simply respond to this email.
Sincerely,
Michael De Vera
Los Angeles Times Mobile Team
mobile@latimes.com
202 West First St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
I called customer service and I thought my problem was solved as I was given a number to call for all back
issues of the Los Angeles Times, unfortunately the company I called was some type of newspaper
broker, they would deliver the missing newspapers, without the inserts, for a $7.50 fee.
In the future I will replace any missing newspapers by visiting the local Starbucks
Sincerely,
Michael De Vera
Los Angeles Times Mobile Team
mobile@latimes.com
202 West First St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
issues of the Los Angeles Times, unfortunately the company I called was some type of newspaper
broker, they would deliver the missing newspapers, without the inserts, for a $7.50 fee.
In the future I will replace any missing newspapers by visiting the local Starbucks
Central Ink raising prices
Chicago-based Central Ink will be implementing price increases for ink and pressroom chemistry effective April 1, 2018.
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Today in Labor History
Mark Twain
Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, gave a speech entitled, Knights of Labor: The New Dynasty. In the speech, he commended the Knights’ commitment to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender. “When all the bricklayers, and all the machinists, and all the miners, and blacksmiths, and printers, and stevedores, and house painters, and brakemen, and engineers . . . and factory hands, and all the shop girls, and all the sewing machine women, and all the telegraph operators, in a word, all the myriads of toilers in whom is slumbering the reality of that thing which you call Power, …when these rise, call the vast spectacle by any deluding name that will please your ear, but the fact remains that a Nation has risen.” Clemens was a lifelong member of the International Typographical Union (now part of the Communications Workers of America). – 1886
The Grand Coulee Dam on Washington state’s Columbia River began operation after a decade of construction. Eight thousand workers labored on the project; 77 died. – 1941
State and local police in Rhode Island used tear gas on some 800 IAM picketers striking the Browne & Sharp machine tool manufacturing company in North Kingstown. Governor J. Joseph Garrahy later publicly apologized for the actions of police. – 1982
A 32-day lockout of major league baseball players ended with an agreement to raise the minimum league salary from $68,000 to $100,000 and to study revenue-sharing between owners and players. – 1990
A bitter six-and-a-half year UAW strike at Caterpillar Inc. ended. The strike and settlement, which included a two-tier wage system and other concessions, deeply divided the union. – 1998