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Industrial Revelation
A period of shift in workers which lead to long hours, low wages, poor working conditions and widespread of child labor. Due to the science and technological development. Thus transforming economies which had then been based on agriculture into large-scale industries such as factory systems. -
First Labor Strike
Earliest recorded strike when New York journeymen tailors protested a wage reduction. -
The Great Railroad Strike
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a nationwide strike by railroad workers across the Untied States. It began in response to repeated wage cuts by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The strike itself was unsuccessful for the workers involved yet it highlighted poor working conditions for railroad workers and contributed to the then growing labor movement. -
Samuel Gompers
Founder of the American Federation of Labor which advocated for a pragmatic approach to unionism for collective bargaining, better wages, hours and working conditions.He assembled and orated strikes which Gompers used as effective weapons to change the degrading conditions of the working men in America. Samuel Gompers is recognized as the architects of the Labor movement. -
Mother Jones
Mary Harris Jones, other known as Mother Jones was a strong activist in the Labor movement history. She publicized harsh working conditions in child labor and demanded a change. She began the March of Mill Children from Philadelphia to President Theodore Roosevelt summer home in Oyster Bay, New York. And did much more in the fight for work rights. -
Clara Lemlich Shavelson
Most famously known for her part in the 1909 garment workers strike in New York City. Clara stood strong with her fellow women coworkers to build up a movement to bring between pay, shorter hours and equal treatment between workers who were and weren't in the Union. This strike became one of the largest strike by women in our history with an uprising of 20,000 strikers. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Accident
The Accident in itself passed around 30 separate laws to regulate both minimum wage as well as working conditions. But what was it ? The accident took place in a warehouse where a fire was started and due to being locked into the building to save cost of breaks killed 146 workers. This sad but necessary event changed many working conditions around the U.S. -
The Great Depression
Period of time where 12,830,000 people were left unemployed and wage income fell almost 50%. It initially caused a great decline in labor unions membership due to the spread of unemployment. Although this negative brought positive as it increased strike activity and brought the New Deal legislation. -
Frances Perkins
The first woman to serve as cabinet secretary and a driving force behinds FDR's New Deal was Frances Perkins. Beyond making history for her gender Frances also fought for the people as she fought for federal laws regulating both child labor as well as worker's safety. Which today brings us our minimum wage, shorter work week as well as our unemployment insurance. She was also an eyewitness to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Our 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a brighter future in both the Great Depression as well as the second World War. In this brighter future dubbed, "The New Deal" FDR focused on the 3 Rs, relief for the unemployed and the poor, recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system. With this deal FDR gave federal sanction to the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively which today still remain active and helps our economy and workers unions strive for better. -
Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez was an activist which started organizing workers to march, boycott and fasting to draw attention and justice for farm workers. He initially forced employers to pay adequate wages and provide other benefits enacting the first Bill of Rights for agricultural workers. Chavez was a successful activist with successful strikes and boycotts. -
I've Been to the Mountaintop
Speech by Martin Luther King Jr. , where he talks on the struggles of the people face even as he seen the Promised Land. He talks on how everyone should be equal. Which motivated many such as Cezar Chavez to seek change -
Puerto Rican Obituary
Written by Pedro Pietri, the text was made to create a culture consciousness in the Puterto Rican community to empathize that the American dream was only made for a certain kind. He does this by sharing the same story which many have in which there is an alienation in urban life. Which allows a common ground to share experiences across the U.S. -
Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper
Poetry written by Martin Espada where the he highlights the hidden cuts which came from the hard work and perfection of work. This story allows young and less working people see the struggles behind simple things they use everyday. It changes peoples perspectives on what is people think is simple and just a background part of life. -
Labor's labors lost? A year after stunning victory at Amazon,unions are stalled
Article reinforcing the decline of unions are the fear which it causes. It goes over how workers want more but they have more to risk from unions then that they would gain. Showing the lowest union records in 2022 with just 10%.