Today in Labor History July 7 Some 500,000 people participate in a two-day general strike, more

[Omaha Steve]

July 7

Striking New York longshoremen meet to discuss ways to keep new immigrants from scabbing. They were successful, at least for a time. On July 14, 500 newly arrived Jews marched straight from their ship to the union hall. On July 15, 250 Italian immigrants stopped scabbing on the railroad and joined the union - 1882

And this: July 7, 1882 - Striking longshoremen in New York City held a meeting to discuss ways to keep new immigrants from scabbing. The tactics were successful, at least for a time. On July 14, 500 newly arrived Jews marched straight from the ship to the union hall. The next day, 250 Italian immigrants stopped scabbing on the railroad and joined the union.

July 7, 1890 - The Minnesota Federation of Labor was founded in St. Paul.


Mary Harris "Mother" Jones begins "The March of the Mill Children", when, accompanied part of the way by children, she walked from Philadelphia to President Theodore Roosevelt's home on Long Island to protest the plight of child laborers. One of her demands: reduce the childrens' work week to 55 hours - 1903 (For more on this working class hero, check out Mother Jones Speaks: Speeches and Writings, a comprehensive collection of her speeches, letters, articles, interviews and testimony before Congressional committees. In her own words, Mother Jones explains her life, her mission, her passion on behalf of working people. Here are her fiery speeches to crowds of striking miners, textile workers, railroad workers and others; her correspondence with political and union leaders of her era -- even newspaper accounts of her activities that include confrontations with police and militia. Available now in the UCS bookstore.)

Cloakmakers begin what is to be a two-month strike against New York City sweatshops - 1910


Some 500,000 people participate when a two-day general strike is called in Puerto Rico by more than 60 trade unions and many other organizations. They are protesting privatization of the island's telephone company - 1998

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_07_7_2011