Labor history

Important Dates in Labor History

  • Philadelphia Committee

    Philadelphia Committee

    Philadelphia committee led by Benjamin Franklin attempts to regulate waste disposal and water pollution.
  • First Union of Working Women

    First Union of Working Women

    In 1830 the Lowell Mill women organized and went on strike. It was the first union of working women in American history.
  • Henry David publishes Walden

    Henry David publishes Walden

    A book about living the simple life in the woods
  • Founding of the National Labor Union

    Founding of the National Labor Union

    The NLU was the first national labor federation in the U.S. It fought for the 8 hour day. The organization fell apart during the depression of 1870.
  • Ecology Term- Oekologie

    Ecology Term- Oekologie

    The term ecology is coined in German as Oekologie by Ernst Heinrich Philipp August Haeckel
  • Acid Rain Term Used by Author Smith

    Acid Rain Term Used by Author Smith

    The term acid rain is coined by Robert Angus Smith in the book Air and Rain
  • Washerwoman Strike

    Washerwoman Strike

    Thousands of black laundry workers went on strike for higher pay and respect for their work. They took on Atlanta businesses and threatened to call a strike that would shutdown the city.
  • The Battle of Cripple Creek

    The Battle of Cripple Creek

    Cripple creek became a boom town after gold was discovered. A strong miners union formed that was part of the Western Federation of Miners
  • Smog Term Created

    Smog Term Created

    The term smog is coined by Henry Antoine Des Voeux in a London meeting to express concern over air pollution
  • McKees Rock Strike

    McKees Rock Strike

    The strike happened at Pressed Steel Car Company. Between 5000 and 8000 mostly immigrant workers.
  • The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

    The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

    A fire broke out on the top floors of a factory. The fire department came but their ladders weren't long enough. 146 people died. Activists were inspired and pushed for reforms.
  • National Park Service Created

    National Park Service Created

    US Congress created the National Park Service
  • Social Security Act was signed into Law

    Social Security Act was signed into Law

    This law provides federal assistance for the elderly, unemployment insurance, and assistance to children whose families have low income.
  • Silent Spring Published

    Silent Spring Published

    Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring
  • Appolo 8 Captures Earthrise

    Appolo 8 Captures Earthrise

    The Apollo 8 picture of Earthrise
  • The Great Postal Strike

    The Great Postal Strike

    Over 200,000 postal workers went on strike This helped to transform the Postal service.
  • First Earth Day

    First Earth Day

    1970 — First Earth Day – April 22. Millions of people gather in the United States for the first Earth Day. US Environmental Protection Agency established
  • Federal Air Traffic Controller Strike

    Federal Air Traffic Controller Strike

    The Federal Air Traffic Controllers went on strike across the country after their union rejected the contract. Most of them defied back to work orders and were fired by Regan.
  • Montreal Protocol

    Montreal Protocol

    1989 — Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer entered into force
  • The Kyoto Protocol

    The Kyoto Protocol

    1997 — The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in December. Countries commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide
  • U.S. Rejects Kyoto Protocol

    U.S. Rejects Kyoto Protocol

    2001 — U.S. rejects the Kyoto Protocol
  • Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Signed Into Law

    Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Signed Into Law

    This law restores the rights of working women and allowed them to sue over pay discrimination.
  • U.S. Withdraws from Paris Agreement

    U.S. Withdraws from Paris Agreement

    2017 — U.S. announces it will cease participation in the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation
  • U.S. Rejoins Paris Agreement

    U.S. Rejoins Paris Agreement

    2021 — U.S. announces it will rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation