Today in Labor History

Los Angeles Times Building

Twenty-one people were killed when the Los Angeles Times building was dynamited during a labor strike.CLICK TO TWEETAnarchists were immediately blamed. The McNamara brothers were kidnapped and taken to the private home of a Chicago police sergeant, where many labor leaders believe they were tortured. They were convicted based on the testimony of a third individual who was also presumably tortured. A union member eventually confessed to the bombing, which he said was supposed to have occurred early in the morning when the building would have been largely unoccupied. – 1910

The George Washington Bridge officially opened, spanning the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York. Thirteen workers died during the four-year construction project for what at the time was the longest main span in the world. – 1931

Thousands of dairy farmers in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa struck in support of higher prices for their milk. – 1935

The Pennsylvania Turnpike opened as the first toll superhighway in the United States. It was built in most part by workers hired through the state’s Re-Employment offices. – 1940

The United Transport Service Employees of America merged with the Brotherhood of Railway, Airline & Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express & Station Employees. – 1972

The Insurance Workers International Union merged with the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. – 1983

The Railroad Yardmasters of America merged with the United Transportation Union. – 1985

The Pattern Makers League of North America merged with the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers. – 1991

The Stove, Furnace & Allied Appliance Workers International Union of North America merged with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, & Helpers. – 1994

The National Hockey League team owners began a lockout of the players that lasted 103 days.  It came a year after the League played without a collective bargaining agreement. The lockout was a subject of dispute as the players sought collective bargaining and owners sought to help franchises that had a weaker market as well as make sure they could cap the rising salaries of players. The lockout caused the 1994-95 season to be shortened to 48 games instead of 84, the shortest season in 53 years.- 1994

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union merged with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. – 1998

The International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine & Furniture Workers merged with the Communications Workers of America. – 2000

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