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Samuel Gompers
Samuel Gompers was a key figure in establishing the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions. He served as the vice president of this union for 1881 to 1886. Later it was reorganized and he became the President of the union for almost 40 years. He helped improve work conditions and higher wages. -
Haymarket Riot
The Marymerket Riot began after a series of events that occured beginning on May 3, 1886. The riot began after people striking began clashing with police officers. 6 on the protesting were killed and a bomb thrown at the police line killed one officer and injured many more. 7 other men were sentenced to death and another was sentenced to 15 years in prison. -
Eugene V. Debs
Eugene V. Debs was a leader of the labor movement who fought for economic and social justice. He became the leader of the American Railway Union. Also Co-founding the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the "wobblies" He fought for the organized rights of workers and for better pay. -
The Homestead Strike of 1892
This event began because of a dispute between the Carnegie Steel Company. The dispute started when the company began to fire members of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. It led to death between both sides after gunshots were exchanged. This highlighted the difficulty of unions against corporations and the government, 26 states passed laws due to this. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railroad strike and boycott. The workers went on strike after negotiations with the company over declining wages were declined, a boycott was called causing raileoad traffic everywhere. The strike resulted in the deaths of people and led the ARU president to be arrested. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Prior to this tragedy the owner of the company began locking the doors, exists, and stairwells. This was done in order to prevent workers from taking unotherized breaks. When a fire broke out in the factory workers were unable to escape the rooms trapping them in the fire and smoke. This tragedy showed people how dangerous work zones could be and led to safety laws being implemented. -
1920
A. Philip Randolph was a key figure in the labor rights movement. He was not on a labor rights leader but a civil rights leader as well. He is known for founding the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters which was the first major black laber union in the US. -
Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta was a labor and cival activists formigrant farm workers. In 1965 she helped organize the 1965 Delano strike of 5,000 grape workers. She was also the lead negotiator in the workers' contract that followed the protests. -
Great Postal Strike
This strike began in New York when 200,000 postal worker went on strike. They worked to gain the rights to to push for better pay and better working conditions. This led to the creation of the U.S. Postal Service in 1971 resulting in the right of collective bargaining and increase pay postal workers. -
Puerto Rican Obituary by Pedro Pietri
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He Showed Us the Way by Cesar Chavez
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Hattie Canty
Hattie Canty was known for being an advocate for minority involvement in the labor movement and workforce advancement. She worker to organize diverse labor unions from 84 different counties. She also helped found the Culinary Training Academy of Las Vegas. -
Address to the Commonwealth Club of California by Cesar Chavez
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Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper by Martin Espada
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Amazon Union by NPR
