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Mary G. Harris Jones aka "Mother Jones"
Mary G. Harris Jones, also known as Mother Jones, was a former schoolteacher turned labor organizer and activist. She fought for better working conditions and child labor laws. Jones began the March of the Mill Children from Philadelphia to bring attention to the harsh conditions of child labor, as well as demand a 55-hour work week. She published articles and newspapers and created plays to educate people on the harm of child labor. -
Eugene V. Debs
Eugene V. Debs was a political activist, trade unionist, and an American socialist. He was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World. Debs helped organize a local branch of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. He also led a major ten-month-long strike against the CB&Q Railroad in 1888. This led to him founding the American Railway Union, which was one of the first industrial unions. -
Haymarket Riot
2,00 workers and activists came together to protest at Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4, 1886. A dynamite bomb was thrown at a group of police officers which led to a violent riot that resulted in the destruction of the largest labor union at the time, the Knights of Labor union. -
The American Federation of Labor
Under the leadership of Samuel Gompers, the American Labor Federation was founded. This group fought for better working conditions, higher pay, collective bargaining rights, and better work hours. This evolved the working conditions in America for the better. -
Philip Randolph
Philip Randolph was an American labor unionist, civil rights activist, and socialist politician. He organized and led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925. This was the first predominantly African American labor union. Randolph also persuaded President Roosevelt to sign Executive Order 8802, which prohibited racial discrimination in the defense industry. -
The Strike at Homestead Mill
The Carnegie Steel Company in Homestead, Pennsylvania fired striking workers. This led to a violent confrontation between the former employees and security guards which ended in 16 killed and many people injured. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
At the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911, a large fire broke out throughout the factory. The doors to the stairwells and exits were locked to prevent workers from taking breaks. 146 workers' lives were lost and there was a negative impact on the victims' families and communities. This event brought more awareness to the dangerous working conditions in manufacturing. -
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was an African-American civil rights and labor rights activist. In 1963 he helped organize the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This march fought for fair employment opportunities and equal treatment in the workplace. -
Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta is an American labor leader and civil rights. She is a co-founder of the United Farm Workers. She is known for having a great impact on the nationwide grape boycotts in the 1960s. Her hard work led to the passage of the 1975 Agricultural Labor Relations Act. Today she continues to advocate for the rights of workers, Mexican-American immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ. -
Passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act
In 1938 the bill was signed by President Roosevelt. This bill created a minimum wage, a 40-hour max workweek, and a minimum working age of 16. This created fair working hours and gave employees better wages. It also restricted the use of child labor significantly. -
The Delano Grape Strike
In the 1960s, the AWOC (Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee) organized a boycott against grapes because of the low wages and poor working conditions laborers had. Their efforts paid off and in 1970 farm workers earned a contract that promised better pay and benefits. -
Cesar Chalvez "Address to California Commonwealth"
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Andrea Hsu "Labor's labors lost? A year after stunning victory at Amazon, unions are stalled"
Hsu writes about how even though there was a small victory for the labor rights movement, there is still a lot that needs to be done. She educates readers on the challenges that persuade many people to give up on labor unions.