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Atlanta’s Washerwomen Strike
In summer 1881, the laundresses took on Atlanta’s business and political establishment which gained so much support they threatened to call a general strike, which would have shut the city down.They demanded higher pay and respect over their work and established a uniform rate at $1 per dozen pounds of wash. The strike not only raised wages it, more importantly, established laundresses and all black women workers as instrumental to the New South’s economy. -
1892 Homestead Strike
Was an industrial lockout and strike, culminating in a battle between strikers and private security agents.Workers sought to keep Carnegie Steel from disbanding the union, cutting wages, and scaling back workers' control in the workplace. -
The Pullman Strike
In response to the depression the Pullman Company lowered the already low wages which left workers with grievances about low wages, poor living conditions, and 16-hour workdays. When they tried to present their grievances they were fired by the president of the company which soon led to a strike and the stop of railroad working. -
The Battle of Cripple Creek
Gold had been shortly discovered and workers started coming in from around the country desperate for jobs, and soon Cripple Creek had a huge labor surplus. Mine owners started to state that workers would work 9-10 hours for 8 hours worth of pay or could work 8 hours and be taken away 50 cents from their pay. This led to strike from workers that believed it wasn't fair. -
Great Anthracite Coal Strike
Was an effort by the United Mine Workers to get higher waves, shorter hours, and recognition of their union. The history of federal government intervention in labor matters showed a clear favoritism for management. -
McKee's Rock Strike
The victory at McKee's Rock extended well beyond the plant. This was the moment when immigrant workers who had no power persecuted, robbed, and slaughtered. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Triangle Shirtwaist factory was a fire were people weren't able to be saved since firefighters couldn't reach up to a 10-story building. Workers were trapped inside because the owners had locked the fire escape exit doors workers jumped to their deaths and in a half an hour, the fire was over, and 146 of the 500 workers were dead. Frances Perkins the tragedy inspired an advocacy for workers’ rights and later became secretary of labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
Protect the rights of employees and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to curtail certain private sector labor and management practices, which can harm the general welfare of workers, businesses and the U.S. economy.Employees
covered by the NLRA* are protected from certain types of employer and union misconduct. -
The Fair Labor Standards Act
establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. The FLSA is enforced by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for employees of other Executive Branch agencies, and by the U.S. Congress for covered employees of the Legislative Branch. -
Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA)
The LMRDA covers unions, officers and employees of unions, union members, employees who work under collective bargaining agreements.
