Today in Labor History Jan 8The AFL Iron and Steel Organizing Committee ends the “Great Steel Strike

[Omaha Steve]

January 8

Birthdate of Mary Kenney O’Sullivan, first AFL woman organizer. In 1880 she organized the Woman’s Bookbinder Union and in 1903 was a founder of the National Women’s Trade Union League - 1864

January 8, 1867 - Congress overrode President Andrew Johnson's veto of a bill granting all adult male citizens of the District of Columbia the right to vote, and the bill became law. It was the first law in American history that granted African-American men the right to vote.

American Federation of Labor charters a Mining Department - 1912

The AFL Iron and Steel Organizing Committee ends the “Great Steel Strike.” Some 350,000 to 400,000 steelworkers had been striking for more than three months, demanding union recognition. The strike failed - 1920

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_01_08_2011