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1830s
The First Union of Working Women was created by women who worked in the Lowells Mill in terrible conditions. The women organized and went on strike to create the first ever union created by women. This shows how important it was to all people that unions get the conditions they were asking for. -
1881
The Washerwoman Strike in Atlanta was so supported that it could have shut down the city. The woman wanted respect and higher wages. This showed how much the community supported higher wages and better work atmospheres for everyone. -
July 2, 1890
The Sherman Antitrust Act was initially passed to ban trusts between businesses; however, it also allowed boycotts and strikes. It is one of the first major laws involving labor unions. It is the reason unions are allowed to boycott and go on strike for better working environments. -
1892
The Homestead Strike is a famous strike from Pennsylvania. It was very bloody and some people died from striking in front of a steel plant. This shows the negative effects of striking and how businesses did not enjoy unions and how they helped employees. -
1894
The Battle of Cripple Creek was a place full of battles full of workers fighting for their rights. Cripple Creek had many mines that had bad working conditions. This showed the true power of a union and how it can benefit employees. -
1909
The McKees Rock Strike was a turning point for Immigrant Workers. One of the greatest labor fights took place near the Ohio River in Pitsburgh by over 16 nationalities. This showed the importance of unions and workers' rights to all nationalities, not just Americans. -
March 25, 1911
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was one of the most eye-opening events in labor history. Firefighters did not have the means of rescuing those 10 stories up and since the owners locked the fire exits, many workers jumped to their death. This showed the public the cruelty of many business owners. -
July 5, 1935
The National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) gave unions the ability to organize workers without having problems from employer. The act also created a Board that made sure unions were fair and evenly represented. This allowed making unions and decisions within the unions to be more fair. -
1947
The Taft-Hartly Act contained many laws and benefits for employers. It allowed businesses to hire those not in unions. The Act hurt unions badly and was a main cause of their downfall due to the power it gave to employers -
1970
The Great Postal Strike was the strike that shocked the country. After years of not being able to argue wages or strike, postmen joined together to strike. This showed that unions were so important that it was worth going against the government.