Today in Labor History

5,000 female cotton workers in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania went on strike for a 10-hour day.CLICK TO TWEETHundreds of “factory girls” and male supporters from Allegheny City and Pittsburgh marched on the Blackstock mill, one of the largest in the area. There, the women broke down the factory’s pine gates and forcibly expelled the “scab girls” as the male auxiliary stood by to keep the police at bay. The “Battle of Blackstock’s Factory,” raised the striking workers’ spirits, but helped turn the middle-class of Pittsburgh, who were shocked by such unladylike behavior, against them. The strike ultimately failed. – 1845

President Kennedy signed off on a $900 million public works bill for projects in economically depressed areas. – 1962

More than 350,000 members of the United Auto Workers began what was to become a 69-day strike against General Motors. – 1970

The International Association of Siderographers merges with International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers. – 1992

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