-
National Labor Union
this was the first national labor federation in the united states. founded in 1866 and dissolved in 1873, it paved the way for other organizations, such as the knights of labor and the AFL. the national labor union followed the unsuccessful efforts of labor activists to form a national coalition of local trade unions. -
Haymarket Riot
the riot was the aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration on Tuesday may 4, 1886 at Haymarket square in Chicago. it began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour day and in reaction to the killing of several workers the previous day by the police. -
American Federation of Labor
the American federation of labor was a national federation of labor unions in the united states. it was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in December 8, 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the knights of labor, a national labor association. -
Homestead Strike
the homestead strike was an industrial lockout and strike which began on June 30, 1892 culminating in a battle between strikers and private security agents. the battle was one of the most serious disputed in u.s. labor history, third behind the ludlow massacre and the battle of Blair mountain. -
Pullman Strike
this was a nationwide railroad strike in the united states on may 11, 1894 and a turning point for us labor law. it pitted the American railway union against the Pullman company, the main railroads, and the federal government of the united states under president Grover Cleveland. the strike and boycott shut down much of the nations freight and passenger traffic. -
Shirtwaist Factory Fire
this was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in u.s. history. the fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers, 123 women and 23 men who died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling or jumping to their deaths. -
Textile Workers Strike of 1934
the textile workers general strike was the largest strike in u.s. labor history at the time; involving as many as half a million textile workers from new England, the mid-Atlantic states and the u.s. southern states, lasting twenty-two days. -
The Wagner Act
this bill was signed into law by president Franklin Roosevelt on July 5, 1935. it established the national labor relations board and addressed relations between unions and employers in the private sector. in 1933 and 1934, a great wave of strikes occurred across the nation in the form of citywide general strikes and factory takeovers. -
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
this act is a federal statute of the united states. the FLSA introduced the forty-hour work week, guaranteed time-and-a-half for overtime in certain jobs, and prohibited most employment of minors. the FLSA applies to any individual employed by an employer but not to independent contractors or volunteers. -
Steel Strike of 1959
the steel strike of 1959 was a labor union strike by the united steelworkers of America against major steel making companies in the united states. the strike occurred over managements demand that the union give up a contract clause which limited managements ability to change the number of workers assigned to a task or to introduce new work rules or machinery which would result in reduced hours or numbers of employees.
