-
Fredrick Douglass's contributions to labor rights.
Douglass was president of the Colored National Labor Union. And the publication that he edited, the New National Era, became the union's official newspaper. -
Founding of the American Federation of Labor
Samuel Gompers founded the AFoL in 1886 to help give laborers rights. It was one of the earlier movements that helped movement gain some traction. -
Samuel Gompers
He was an important figure within early workers rights. He founded the AFoL and was its president for 40 years. And during all that time he helped push for labor rights. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
On Saturday, March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the top floors of the factory. The firefighters arrived to factory but the ladders that they had were too short to reach the higher stories. And inside the workers were trapped because the owners locked the fire exits so they burned or jumped to their deaths and 146 workers died. The event cause a push for workers safety and helped make labor laws to never allow something of this nature to happen again. -
Founding of the National Farmworker Association.
After it founding the members pushed for increased co-operative rights, fair market access for farmers, direct election of senators and voting rights for women. And the effects of the National Farmworker Association caused the enactment of the Federal Farm Loan Act, which established twelve Federal Land Banks. It helped build the base to bring what labor rights were before to what we currently have. -
Memphis Sanitation strike
The sanitation workers in Memphis went on strike after the deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walkers. They died because they were not allowed inside of a building to avoid rain. So they went inside of their garbage truck and the compactor accidentally turned on killing them. With the strike they were able to obtain higher pay and the city now recognized the union. -
I've Been to the Mountain Top Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his speech to a crowd in Memphis about the sanitation workers striking against unfair working conditions. He said that we are all gods children and should all be treated equally in all fields of work. And he gave this speech to help support the strike and garner more attention towards the subject. -
Postal Strike of 1970
200,000 postal workers went on strike for better wages. Since postal workers were federal workers they were forbidden to advocate for fair wages by the government. Since so many went on strike they were able to agree to a 6% wage increase. -
Dolores Huerta
She was the co-founder of the National Farmworkers association with Caezer Chavez. She worked hard for the rights of farmworkers and other mistreated groups. She played a key role within the movement for equality. -
Caeser Chavez Speech
Caesar Chavez made his address to the California Commonwealth club about the farm labor system in the nation that mistreats farmers. His goal was to overthrow the farm labor system that treated farmers as nonhuman. He was able to lead the first successful farmers union in history giving workers many benefits and better pay.