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1768 New York Tailors Strike
In 1768, a group of journeymen tailors orchestrated the earliest recorded strike. The New York tailors were faced with a potential wage reduction. Not wanting to lose valuable workers, potential customers and skill in the clothes-making business, the business owner was forced to comply with the tailors' demands and protests. -
1827 Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations in Philadelphia formed
Central labor bodies united craft unions within a single city. -
1844 Lowell Female Labor Reform Association
After protesting wage cuts in 1834 and 1836, the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association was founded in 1844 and became known as one of the earliest successful organizations of working women in the United States. -
Womens Trade Union League formed
Founded in 1903, the WUTL was successful in uniting women from all classes to work toward better, fairer working conditions. -
Lawrence Textile strike
After weavers discovered that their pay had been reduced by 32 cents women of the Everett Mill started what is now known as the strike that shook America. By the end of January 12, more than 10,000 workers were out on strike. -
Security for Union Workers
`Union workers gained a measure of security against old age, illness, and unemployment and strengthened their right to fair treatment at the workplace. -
Equal Pay Act
The Equal Pay Act is a labor law that prohibits gender-based wage discrimination in the United States. It was signed in 1963 by President Kennedy. -
Coalition of Labor Union Women
In 1974 the Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded. Over 3,000 determined labor union women and supportive feminists from across the United States convened in Chicago to create the Coalition of Labor Union Women. -
1974 Formation of Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers
The Federal Society of Journeymen was the beginning of sustained trade organizations among American workers. Local craft unions began to proliferate in cities demanding a shorter work day. -
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
In 2009 President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This act guaranteed working women the right to sue over pay discrimination.
