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Knights of Labor Founded
Uriah Stephens forms the Knights of Labor in Philadelphia. Initially a secret society, the Knights are able to organize workers around the country under the radar of management. They will become an important force in the early days of labor organizing. -
Great Southwest Railroad Strike
This strike had approximetely 200,000 people on strike at the Union Pacific. They all refused to work and cited unsafe conditions and unfair hours and pay. The strike ended up not working out because of people not committing. -
Haymarket Riot
A labor rally at the Haymarket Square in Chicago, called in support of the eight-hour day, erupts into chaos when an unknown party tosses a bomb at police, who then fire into the crowd. The incident stains labor's image and creates turmoil within the movement. -
The Pullman Strike
250,000 industry workers joined in the strike, effectively shutting down train traffic to the west of Chicago. Widespread sympathy for the workers cause promoted prounion sentiment across many areas of the country. -
Great Anthracite Coal Strike
The people were seeking better wages and conditions, the union went on strike in eastern Pennsylvania, an area that contained the majority of the nations supply of anthracite coal. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
A fire in lower Manhattan kills 146 women workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. The tragedy highlights the harsh conditions under which the young women had to work, evoking public sympathy for reform -
Steel Strike
The strikers were going against poor working conditions, long hours, low wages and corporate harassment regarding union involvement. The number of strikers quickly grew to 350,000, shutting down nearly half of the steel industry. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Act sets the standards for wages and overtime pay for both public and private employers. So if an employee is paid less than the prescribed minimum, then she has an unassailable right to file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division, and will receive redress. -
The Equal Pay Act
This law prohibits sex-based wage discrimination between men and women in the same establishment who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility under similar working conditions. The law is attempting to fulfill the aspiration of equal pay for equal work and reduce the gender pay gap. -
Right-To-Work Law in Indiana
The law prevents unions in that state from requiring workers to pay dues in exchange for the union's representation and prohibits unions from mandating that nonmembers pay fees to the unions for representing them.
