Sunday, June 21, 2020

Today in Labor History June 21, 2020

Molly Maguires
Ten miners accused of being militant “Molly Maguires” were hanged in Pennsylvania. Many historians argue that the Molly Maguires, a secret miners’ organization allegedly responsible for violence and social conflict in the coal regions, never really existed. A private corporation initiated the investigation of the ten accused miners through a private detective agency. A private police force arrested them, and private attorneys for the coal companies prosecuted them. “The state provided only the courtroom and the gallows,” a judge said many years later. – 1877
Ten 'Molly Maguires' were hanged in Pa, Supreme Court uphold unions right to urge members to vote for specific candidates, UAW on strike again, and 100,000 march in solidarity with Detroit newspaper workers.CLICK TO TWEET
The US Supreme Court upheld the right of unions to publish statements urging members to vote for a specific congressional candidate, ruling that such advocacy is not a violation of the Federal Corrupt Practices Act. – 1948
The UAW began a strike at Illinois Caterpillar plants in Peoria, Decatur, and Pontiac. – 1994
100,000 unionists and other supporters marched in solidarity with striking Detroit News and Detroit Free Press newspaper workers. – 1997

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