Saturday, October 31, 2020

Today in Labor History October 31st

 


Seattle’s Hooverville

George Henry Evans published the first issue of the Working Man’s Advocate, “edited by a Mechanic” for the “useful and industrious classes” in New York City. He focused on the inequities between the “portion of society living in luxury and idleness” and those “groaning under the oppression and miseries imposed on them”. – 1829
Convict laborers sent to break coal mine strike, Occupy Seattle was inaugurated (in 1931), 400 stone masons finish Mt. Rushmore after 14 years, and more.
Tennessee sent in leased convict laborers to break a coal miners strike in Anderson County. The miners revolted, burned the stockades, and sent the captured convicts by train back to Knoxville. – 1891
Occupy Seattle was inaugurated. Led by unemployed lumberjack Jesse Jackson, the first Hooverville was built on vacant land owned by the Port of Seattle near Pioneer Square. Within two days over 50 shacks were erected and by 1934, 600-1000 people were living in them. By 1941, Seattle’s “Hooverville” covered 25 blocks. Hoovervilles eventually spread throughout the country. – 1931
After 14 years of labor by 400 stone masons, the Mt. Rushmore sculpture was completed in Keystone, South Dakota. – 1941
The Upholsterers International Union merged into the United Steelworkers Union. – 1949
The International Alliance of Bill Posters, Billers & Distributors of the United States & Canada surrendered its AFL-CIO charter and was disbanded. – 1971

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