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First Union of Working Women - Lowell Mill
It is easy to imagine why this is important. Many women suffered the same problems males did in the workplace. Unions should protect all workers, so this was a great start. The union formed in 1881. -
Haymarket Square Riots
This riot started as a peaceful protest. However, an unknown individual threw a bomb, creating chaos. Police ended up fairing into the crowd. Even though the source was unknown, unions were blamed -
Great Southwest Railroad Strike
200000 workers participated in this strike. For months workers did not work at their pacific railroads. Unfortunately the strike failed and the Knights of Labor were soon disbanded. -
The Battle of Cripple Creek
Workers of Cripple creek fraught dramatic battles to improve their lives. Mines sprung up after gold was discovered and eventually unions did too. This was incredibly important for mining unions -
LA Times Bombing
A bomb exploded at the headquarters of the stridently antiunion Los Angeles Times, killing 20 people. Eventually, two men connected with the Iron Workers Union, which has been implicated in other bombings, will confess to dynamiting the Times. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
This was truly a tragic event. A fire broke out on the top floor of a factory and spread viciously. This resulted in a large amount of death. The public was outraged and support for unions increased. -
Steel Strike of 1919
Coal workers alongside the AFL formed a strike due to poor wages, harsh conditions, danger, etc. The owners used claims of communism to deter public support. The strike failed and union action ceased for years after. -
Wagner Act
The Wagner Act was a huge victory for unions. It was a part of the New Deal created by President FDR. It allowed unions to freely gather with workers without harassment from employers. -
Right to work law
Right to work laws drastically affect unions in each state. This first state was Florida in 1943, and many followed. Essentially, if a state adopts the law, workers do not have to pay unions for representation. -
Occupational Safety and Health Act
This Act is lesser known than the other 2, but just as important. It was established in 1970 with the goal of removing most hazards from the workplace. This was a main goal of many unions -
UPS Workers Strike
This strike was actually successful. Workers demanded full time jobs with increased wages and their demands ended up being met. UPS on the other hand lost 600 million dollars. This was a union victory.