Today in labor history June 20 Striking African American auto workers are attacked by KKK 1,300 arre

[Omaha Steve]

June 20


June 20, 1893 - The American Railway Union, headed by Eugene V. Debs, was founded. Its goal was the unification of all railroad workers – regardless of craft, race or ethnicity – into one big union.

Read more about the ARU at www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/debstory.htm and www.eugenevdebs.com/pages/union.html

An excellent book on Debs and the ARU is Eugene V. Debs: Citizen and Socialist by Nick Salvatore.


Henry Ford recognizes the United Auto Workers, signs contract for workers at River Rouge plant – 1941

Striking African American auto workers are attacked by KKK, National Workers League, and armed white workers at Belle Isle amusement park in Detroit. Two days of riots follow, 34 people are killed, more than 1,300 arrested - 1943

The Taft-Hartley Labor Management Relations Act, curbing strikes, is vetoed by President Harry S Truman. The veto was overridden three days later by a Republican-controlled Congress – 1947

Oil began traveling through the Alaska pipline. Seventy thousand people worked on building the pipeline, history's largest privately-financed construction project – 1977


Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history/159 & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_06_20_2009

[pleah]

1. K&R Thanks for keeping the labor history of this country alive. n/t

[nosmokes]

2. What ^she^ said goes for me too!