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Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston -
In the 1830s, the Lowell mill women organized strikes in the textile mills, protesting wage cuts despite being unable to vote. Although their strikes initially failed, they later shifted to political action, advocating for a 10-hour workday. While their short-term success was limited, they paved the way for future social justice movements, showing that working women could unite and fight for their rights. Their legacy continues to inspire women in unions today. -
In 1881, Atlanta's black laundresses, fresh from the era of slavery, went on strike for better wages, respect, and control over their work. They formed the Washing Society, which grew to 3,000 members, and inspired other workers to demand higher wages. Despite arrests and fines, their determination prevailed, establishing the significance of black women workers in the New South's economy and challenging the idea that they were invisible. -
Samuel Gompers, shaped American unions but excluded black members and made divisive racial statements. He championed craft unionism, economic reform, and political nonpartisanship. Gompers led AFL's growth but faced employer opposition, prompting a shift to a political stance. Played a key role in Wilson's administration, promoting labor rights and the International Labor Organization. Gompers' anti-immigrant rhetoric and racial views taint his legacy. He passed away in 1924. -
Eugene Victor Debs, a prominent American socialist and trade unionist, co-founded the IWW and ran for President five times as the Socialist Party candidate. He was known for his labor activism, opposition to WWI, and imprisonment under the Sedition Act, with his sentence commuted in 1921. -
The 1892 Homestead strike was a pivotal moment in U.S. labor history. Skilled steelworkers at Carnegie Steel Company protested wage cuts and union-busting efforts. Despite violence and suppression, the strike inspired the well-known song "Father Was Killed by the Pinkerton Men" and had long-lasting effects on labor organizing in the steel industry, with wages shrinking and unions losing ground for decades. -
In 1894, Cripple Creek miners, part of the Western Federation of Miners (WFM), went on strike for better working conditions, achieving an eight-hour workday and higher wages through Governor David Waite's intervention. In a later conflict, anti-union efforts led to the suppression of the WFM in Cripple Creek. -
In the late 1800s, Utah's growing mining and industrial sectors drew a diverse workforce, leading to poor working conditions. Labor unions emerged to demand better pay and safety measures, with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) playing a radical role. The controversial 1914 murder trial of Joe Hill, an IWW member, drew international attention, but he was convicted and executed in 1915, becoming a symbol of labor activism against poor working conditions. -
William Green, championed labor cooperation, workers' rights legislation, shorter work hours, and productivity-wage deals. He played a pivotal role in passing labor laws like the Norris-La Guardia Act, National Labor Relations Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act. While he aimed to unify craft and industrial unions, he opposed the CIO's split from the AFL. Green's influence extended to advisory roles in various administrations until his death in 1952. -
Frances Perkins, the first woman in a U.S. Cabinet post, was a driving force behind key labor reforms during FDR's presidency. Her advocacy led to pivotal acts like the Wagner Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. As Labor Secretary, she vigorously supported workers' rights and played a vital role in resolving labor disputes, leaving a lasting impact on American labor history. -
In 1970, 200,000 postal workers went on strike for better pay and collective bargaining rights. After negotiations, they won a 6 percent wage increase and laid the foundation for the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), marking a significant victory for public-sector unions in the U.S. -
by Cesar Chavez -
Cezar Chavez -
By Andrea Hsu