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A bomb exploded during a peaceful rally in Chicago advocating for workers' rights to an eight-hour workday. Several police officers and civilians were killed in the incident. Despite the lack of evidence linking them to the bombing, eight anarchists were tried and four were executed. The Haymarket Affair became a symbol of the labor movement's fight for workers' rights. -
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Workers at the Pullman Palace Car Company in Illinois began the Pullman Strike in response to wage cuts and poor working conditions. As railroad workers refused to handle Pullman cars, the protest quickly spread across the country. President Grover Cleveland dispatched federal troops to break the strike, highlighting the power struggle between labor and big business.
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A fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City killed 146 workers, the majority being young immigrant women. The tragedy brought to light the hazardous working conditions in many factories and encouraged labor activists to demand safer workplaces, resulting in the creation of stricter labor and safety regulations. -
A violent conflict between striking miners and the Colorado National Guard during a coal miner strike in Ludlow, Colorado, resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 people, including women and children. This event shed light on the harsh working conditions and violence endured by miners. -
The National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act, was a major victory for labor. It gave workers the legal right to form labor unions and engage in collective bargaining with their employers. This law established a foundation for the growth of labor unions in the United States. -
The United Auto Workers (UAW) led a significant sit-down strike at General Motors factories in Flint, Michigan. They took over the plants and stopped production until their demands for recognition and better working conditions were met. This was an important turning point in labor history, resulting in increased labor organizing in the automotive industry.
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The Taft-Hartley Act restricted labor unions by prohibiting secondary boycotts, limiting union political activities, and allowing states to pass "right-to-work" laws. It was seen as a response to worries regarding labor unrest and the power of unions. -
This historic legislation, which mainly aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination, also included Title VII, which forbids employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Due to this, workers' rights were significantly increased and workplace equality was advanced. -
The United Farm Workers (UFW), led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, organized boycotts of grapes and other produce in order to push for better working conditions, fair pay, and collective bargaining rights for farmworkers. Particularly the grape boycott attracted a lot of support and increased understanding of the labor rights of agricultural workers. -
A significant turning point in the history of labor was the strike by the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO). Air traffic controllers among those who worked for the federal government went on strike to call for better pay and working conditions. Ronald Reagan demonstrated his tough stance by firing over 11,000 striking employees, signaling a change in the government's attitude toward labor actions and reducing the influence of unions in the public field.