The Labor movement is steeped in a proud tradition founded by many of
America's greatest heroes. The sacrifices of the first leaders has been
magnified many thousands of time over since the first strike on American soil.
Some sacrificed their livelihood and jobs to ensure that working class men and
women in America could expect a decent day's wage for a good day's work while
removing dangerous working conditions for our industries and companies. You will
see that, tragically, while all gave some, some gave all. The deaths of each and
every labor man, women, and child is a testament to their personal belief that
sometimes the good of the many outweigh the good of the few. These men and women
paved the way for Americans to have a higher standard of living not only while
they were part of the workforce, but also in the Golden Years of retirement. As
you read the words of events on this page, please take time to consider just
what the participants in the event sacrificed for their families and for you.
1440 Opening of the African slave trade markets
1608 Polish
glassmakers open first New World factory – Same immigrants lead first New World
strike demanding right to vote.
1619 Slavery introduced into Virginia
1620 Mayflower compact signed and beginning
of town meetings
1636 Maine indentured servants and fishermen mutiny
1648 Boston
shoemakers and coopers form guilds to protect their interests
1661 Virginia indentured servants plot
1675 Boston ship carpenter’s protest
1676 Bacon’s Rebellion and farmers’ revolt
1677 New York City carters’ strike
1712 Carolina
slave code enacted to regulate slave life
1724 Carpenter’s Company of Philadelphia
created to assist in life quality
1739 Stone Rebellion by slaves in South Carolina
1765 First
women workers organization formed -Daughters of Liberty
1766 Green Mountain uprising to protest
inequality of political power
1768 Florida indentured servants revolt
1770 Boston Massacre precipitated by
conflict between rope workers and British soldiers
1773 Carpenters lead Boston Tea Party
1774 New Jersey Iron workers strike
1778 New York City printers unite to win
wage increases
1785 New York City shoemakers strike for
three weeks
1786 Philadelphia printers walk out to gain
$6 a week minimum wage
1787 US Constitution counts five slaves as
three people for representation
1790 Cabinet and chair makers fight attempt
by employers to blacklist unionist. First textile industry opens with every
worker under the age of twelve
1791 Philly carpenters strike
unsuccessfully for 10-hour day. First building trades strike
1792
Philly shoemakers form first union for collective bargaining
1794
Typographic Society organizes NY printers and strike for higher pay with shorter
hours. Shoemakers organize in Philly again
1796 Cabinetmakers go on strike
1797 Philly carpenters go on strike
1800 G.
Prosser organizes unsuccessful slave revolt in Richmond. VA
1805 Cordwainers include closed shop
provision in its constitution
1806 Philly Cordwainers tried for
conspiracy while striking for higher wages
1808 Federal law passed to prohibit
importation of slaves
1814 Power loom invented which makes
weaving a factory operation
1817 NY legislates law-freeing slaves born
before 4 July 1799
1819 Panic causes six-year depression.
Tariffs imposed
1820 Mass begins industrial organization.
Missouri compromise legislated
1823 Hatters in NYC tried & convicted of
conspiracy
1824 Women join men in strike in RI for
weaver’s issues
1825 United Tailoresses organize in NY-
first all female strike
1827 Mechanic’s Union of Trade Associations
formed in PA. Philly tailors tried for conspiracy
1828 Workingman’s Party formed in Philly.
First all women factory strike in NH (mill workers). Philly Mechanic’s Union of
Trade Associations looses strike for 10-hour workday
1829 NY forms Workingman’s Party
1830’s Children under 16 make up 1/3 of New
England workforce
1831 Nat Turner leads slave revolt. 1600
taloresses strike for two months
1833 Workingwomen’s Ticket formed. NY
Carpenter’s strike
1834 National Trades Union formed in NYC.
Factory Girl's Association formed. 800 women strike in NH
1835 Shoemakers tried and convicted of
treason. NJ children strike silk mills
1836 Equal Rights Party formed. 1st
national union formed for a specific trade - Cordwainers unions grow. NY
Tailor’s strike
1837 Most union’s buckle in panic over
conspiracy trials. Depression begins
1838 1/3 of nation’s workers unemployed
1840 Van Buren institutes 10-hour workday
for federal workers
1842 MA court rules unions are not illegal
conspiracies. CT & MA pass laws prohibiting children for working longer than 10
hours per day. Coal miners strike
1848 PA enacts law-making 12 the youngest legal age for commercial work. PA
passes law mandating 10-hour day. Women mill workers riot for enforcement of
laws
1850
Compromise of 1850 perpetuates slavery
1852 Typographical union founded - first
national workers’ union still present today. 1st state law in Ohio limits
workingwomen to 10-hour days
1855 Labor Leader Eugene Debs born
1859 Iron Molder’s union formed
1860 Successful New England shoemaker’s
strike (20000 involved)
1861 Civil War begins. American Miner’s
Association (First national coal miner’s union) formed in St. Louis, MO
1862 Homestead Act passed in Congress
1863 Emancipation Proclamation signed.
Brotherhood of Locomotive engineers founded
1864 Cigar Maker’s Union formed. Contract
Labor Law upheld allowing wages to be held back for importing immigrant labor
used as strike breakers
1865 16th Amendment abolishes slavery. 8
Hour League formed
1866 National Labor Union founded. Molder’s
Lockout occurs
1867 Knights of St. Crispin founded to
represent shoe industry workers. General strike for 8-hour day in Chicago
1868 Anthracite Coal strike. Federal 8 hour
work law passed for government laborers, workmen, and mechanics. First state
(MA) creates Labor Bureau
1869 Colored National Labor Union formed.
Knights of Labor founded in Philly (only open to blacks and women). Collar
Laundress strike in NY. Daughters of St. Crispin form (1st national female
union)
1870 Coal Miners secure first written
contract with coal operators
1872 National Labor reform Party formed
1873 Depression begins. Miner’s National
Association formed
1874 Tompkins square riot in NYC. Union
label 1st used by Cigar Makers International Union
1875 Molly Mcguires convicted for coalfield
murders - twenty hanged. Anthracite coal strike
1876 Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers founded. Workingman’s Party founded (predecessor to Socialist
Party). Greenback Party formed
1877 Federal and State troops crush first
nationwide strike in US history when railroad workers walk off the job.
Cigarmaker’s strike. Anti-Chinese riots breakout in San Francisco. Pinkerton spy
frames members of the Molly Mcguires (militant rank and file coal miner’s) -
several hanged
1878 Socialist Labor party founded.
Greenback Labor Party organized. International Labor Union founded
1882 30,000 workers march in first Labor
Day parade in NYC. Congress passes Chinese Exclusion Act. Cotton Mill Strike in
NY
1883 International Working People’s
Association formed. Cowboy Strike. VA Tobacco Strike. Molder’s lockout
begins.1884 Federation Bureau of Labor established. MA Textile Strike. UP
Railroad Strike
1885 Congress passes Foran Act forbidding
contract for immigration labor. Anti-Chinese riots break out. Cloakmaker’s
General Strike. McCormick Harvesting Machine Strike. Southwest Railroad Strike.
NY Carpet Weaver’s Strike1886 350,000 workers demonstrate in Chicago demanding
8-hour workday. May Day founded as worker’s holiday. 8-hour movement failed.
Haymaker Massacre occurs in Chicago with bombing from anarchists. Police storm
Labor Market intensifying demonstrations. American Federation of Labor founded
and the much beloved Samuel Gompers installed as first president. GA Textile
Strike.
1887 Seven sentenced to death for Haymaker
Massacre (5 eventually executed) Port of New York Longshoreman Strike
1888 International Association of Machinist formed as 19 machinists meet in
locomotive pit at Atlanta, GA; vote to form a trade union. Machinists earn 20 to
25 cents an hour for 10-hour day. Railroad labor relation’s laws enacted at
federal level. Burlington Railroad Strike. Cincinnati Shoemaker’s Strike
1889 34 locals represented at the first Machinists convention, held in Georgia
State Senate Chamber, elect Tom Talbot as Grand Master Machinist. A monthly
journal is started. Baseball Players’
revolt begins. MA Textile Strike. A. Philip Randolph born (civil and labor
rights leader)
1890 First Canadian local chartered at Stratford, Ont. Union is named
International Association of Machinists. Headquarters set up in Richmond, VA.
IAM membership at 4,000. United Mineworker’s of America founded in Ohio.
Carpenter’s strike for 8-hour day
1891 IAM Local 145 asks $3 for a 10-hour day. People’s Party formed. GA Black
Laborers’ Strike. TN Miner’s Strike
1892 First railroad agreement signed with Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe.
International Longshoreman's Association founded. Seaman’s Union founded. PA
iron and steel worker’s strike gains national attention. New Orleans General
Strike. Coeur d’Alene Miners’ Strike
1893 Depression begins. American Railway
Union formed. Western Federation of Miners formed. Federal court in LA applies
Sherman Antitrust Act finding sympathy strike to be in restraint of trade.
National Civic Federation formed.
1894 Railroads paralyzed by National Rail
Strike led by American Railways Union in Pullman, IL. CO Miner’s strike. Great
Northern Railroad strike. Labor Day becomes official US holiday
1896 Colorado militia sent to break up
miner’s strike.
1895: IAM joins American Federation of Labor (AFL), moves headquarters to
Chicago.
1897 PA police kill 19 strikers & wound 40.
Union ranks around 447,000
1898 Machinist in LL 52 (PA) negotiate first 9-hour workday. 14 miners killed
during strike in Il. Congress passes Erdman Act providing mediation &
arbitration of Railroad labor disputes. American Labor Union founded. MA Shoe
Worker’s Strike. AFL membership around 250,000
1899 Time-and-a-half for overtime has become prevalent. IAM Headquarters moved
to Washington, D.C. Miners blowup ID mill. Brotherhood of Teamsters formed. NY
Grain Shoveler’s Strike. NYC Newsboy’s Strike
1900
International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union founded. Machinist Strike.
Anthracite Coal Strike
1901 Socialist Party of America formed.
United Textile Workers founded. Machinist Strike. National Cash Register Strike.
San Fran Restaurant Workers’ Strike. Steel Strike. AFL helps establish National
Civic Federation
1902 14 miners killed in Pana IL. Chicago
Teamster’s Strike. Great Anthracite Coal Miner’s Strike. Unsuccessful steel
strike leaves steel industry virtually free of unions
1903 Specialists admitted to membership. Drive begins for 8-hour day. Troops
stop riot at Cripple Creek CO. Dept of Commerce and Labor created by Congress.
National Women’s Trade Union League formed. CA Sugar Beet Strike and Utah Coal
Strike begins. Mother Jones leads march on Roosevelt’s home to protest for child
labor accident victims
1904 CO militia kills 6 strikers. NYC
Interborough Rapid Transit Strike. Packinghouse Worker’s Strike. Santa Fe
Railroad strike. AFL around 1,700,000 members strong
1905 Apprentices admitted to IAM membership. There are 769 IAM locals. Railroad
machinists earn 36 to 43 cents an hour for 9-hour day. NY Supreme Court declares
maximum hours per shift for bakers to be unconstitutional. 8-hour days become
standard for printers. Industrial Workers of the World founded
1907 NV Miner’s Strike begins. Mine
explosion kills 361 in WV
1908 Metal Trades Department established within AFL with IAM President James
O'Connell as president. Supreme Court rules labor hours for women
unconstitutional. Section 10 of Erdman Act dealing with “yellow dog” contracts
declared unconstitutional
1909 20,000 female garment workers strike
in NY - gain preferential union hiring -board of arbitration & grievances. NAACP
founded. GA Railroad Strike. PA Steel Strike. CT Arsenal Strike
1910 PA Steel Strike. Cloakmaker’s Strike.
15-year-old Bessie Noramowitz leads Chicago Clothing Maker’s Strike. General
strike in Philly and LA. Worker’s Compensation Acts passed in several states.
Accident rate for non-English speaking workers in Steel Factories twice the
national average
1911 Women admitted to IAM membership with equal rights. Supreme Court orders FL
to cease promotion of boycotts targeting Bucks Stove and Range Company. 147
workers lose their lives in sweatshop fire at Triangle Shirtwaist Company in NYC
- many deaths due to locked doors designed to keep “unauthorized” breaks from
occurring. Illinois Central and Harriman Lines Rail Strike. Southern Lumber
Operator’s Lockout begins. National Safety Council formed to promote business
interest over safety of workforce
1912 Railway Employees Department established in AFL with Machinist A. O.
Wharton as President. Women and children beaten by police in textile strike in
Ma. National Guard called out to stop strike by WV coal miners. 2 women and 12
children machine gunned by company guards in CO mining strike. Joe Hill executed
in UT in what many believed to be trumped up murder charges in attempt to
silence organizers voices across America. MA adopts first minimum wage standard
for women and minors. Chicago Newspaper Strike. Fur worker’s Strike. “Bread and
Roses” strike in MA involves 20,000 workers wins back wage cuts. LA Timber
Worker’s Strike. NYC Hotel Strikes. WV Mine Strikes
1913 International Workers of the World (IWW)
leads unsuccessful textile strike to stop wage cuts. US Department of Labor
established. Ludlow CO Massacre of union workers occurs. Machinist Strike and
boycott begins. MI Copper Strike. Rubber Worker’s Strike. Studebaker Auto
worker’s Strike. CA Hop riot occurs
1914 Nineteen UMWA men, women & children
killed by Co State Militia in “Ludlow Mining Massacre”. Congress passes Clayton
Antitrust Act to limit injunctions used in labor disputes making picketing
illegal. Amalgamated Clothing workers founded. Fulton Bag & Cotton Mill Strike
1915 IAM wins 8-hour in many shops and factories. IAM affiliates with
International Metalworkers Federation. Congress passes La Follette Seaman’s Act
to regulate working conditions for seamen. Standard Oil Strike. Ohio Steel
Strike. IWW organizer Joe Hill executed in Utah
1916 Auto mechanics admitted to IAM membership.Congress passes Federal Child
Labor Law and Adamson Act (Child Labor Law later declared unconstitutional -
Admanson sets 8 hour workday for railroaders) American Federation of Teachers
founded. AZ Copper Strike. Everett WA Massacre. MN Iron Range Strike. NYC
Transit Strike. NY Cloakmaker's Strike. SF Open Shop Campaign. Standard Oil
Strike
1917 US enters WWI. Yellow Dog contracts
upheld by Supreme Court. OK Green Corn Rebellion. Tom Mooney sentenced to death
in CA. AZ Miners’ Strike ends with 1200 strikers being deported to the desert by
Sheriff's Department. MT Miner's Strike. East St. Louis Race Riots. Pacific
Northwest Lumber Strike. Railroads federalized due to war
1918 IAM membership reaches 331,000. War Labor Board created. WWI ends. Women
Trade Unionists’ hold first national conference. Women in Industry division
created in Labor Dept
1919 Postwar Strike waves sweep across US.
Communist Party of America founded. Red Scare begins. Actors’ Strike. Boston
Police Strike (this is the first public safety workers strike in US history). WA
Massacre. Chicago Race Riots. New England Telephone Strike. Seattle General
Strike. 16000 Silk workers strike in NJ for shorter workweek. Steel Strike.
Winnipeg General Strike
1920 Headquarters moved to first Machinists Building, at 9th & Mt.Vernon Pl.,
N.W., Washington, D.C. British Amalgamated Engineering Union cedes its North
American locals to IAM. Machinists earn 72 to 90 cents an hour for 44-hour week.
Women’s Suffrage Amendment ratified. Transportation Act established
de-federalizes railroads and creation of Railroad Labor Board. Trade Union
Educational League formed. AL Miners’ Strike. Clothing Workers Lockout. Matewan
WV Massacre kills 10 in dispute over right to organize coalminers
1921 Clayton Act ruled unconstitutional.
Presidential Commission places unemployment responsibility on local communities.
Supreme Court rules AZ law forbidding injunctions in labor disputes and
permitting picketing ruled unconstitutional. Depression begins. Seaman’s Strike.
Coal Mine Activist Hatfield & Chambers killed on steps of WV courthouse. Blair
Mt Battle in WV uses 2000 US troops to block organizers
1922 79,000 railroad machinists pin shopmen's strike against second post-war
wage cut. Membership declines to 148,000. UMWA wins court case holding them not
responsible for local strike actions and not in violation of conspiracy laws.
Herrin IL massacre occurs in which miners killed 20 guards and strike breakers
1924 IAM convention endorses Robert M. LaFollette, Sr., for President.Samuel
Gompers dies. William Green becomes AFL president. Amendment to restrict child
labor proposed but not enough states adopt measure to pass law
1925 Brotherhood of Sleeping Cars Porters
founded. Anthracite coal strike
1926 Railway Labor Act passes Congress -
requires employers to bargain with unions and forbids discrimination based on
union activities. NJ Textile strike
1927 IAM urges ratification of Child Labor Amendments to U.S. Constitution;
2,500,000 children under 16 are working at substandard wages. Two MA unionist -
Sacco & Vanzetti - executed for union activities. Bituminous coal strike.
Longshoreman’s & Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act passed. Journeymen Stone
Cutters found quality of interstate trade restraint in actions to prevent
purchase of nonunion cut stone
1928 250 delegates at 18th IAM convention urge 5-day week to alleviate
unemployment. MA Textile strike. AL outlaws convict labor system in coalmines
1929 Depression layoffs cut IAM membership to 70,000. Stock Market crashes.
Great Depression begins. Trade Union League forms. NC Textile strike. Conference
for Progressive Labor Action founded. Hayes-Cooper Act regulating shipment of
prison goods in interstate commerce approved. NC textile strike
1930 Supreme Court rules in union favor
upholding Railway Labor Act prohibiting interference in workers choice of
unions. Union membership around 3,000,000. National Unemployed Council formed.
CA Farmworker's strike
1931 Davis-Beacon Act passed to ensure
prevailing wages paid to workers involved in public works projects. Scottsboro
Boys arrested in AL for union activities. KY miner’s strike. FL Cigar Worker’s
strike
1932 FD Roosevelt elected. Norris-LaGuardia
Act passes to prohibit federal injunctions in labor disputes and outlaws yellow
dog contracts. American Federation of Government Employees formed. CA Pea
Pickers strike. Century Airline’s Pilots strike. TN Coal strike. Ford Hunger
March in Detroit - four workers killed as protesters march on plant. CA Tree
Pruner’s strike. Wisconsin adopts first unemployment insurance act. Nearly 30%
of union members are jobless.
1933 IAM backs National Recovery drive and 40-hour week. FOR picks IAM Vice
President Robert Fechner to head new Civilian Conservative Corps. IAM Membership
sinks to 56,000. National Industrial
Recovery Act passes to guarantee right of employees to organize and bargain
collectively. Francis Perkins becomes first female presidential cabinet member.
Newspaper Guild formed. Briggs Manufacturing strike. Ca Farmworker’s strike.
Detroit Tool & Die strike. Hormel Meat packing strike. NM Miner’s strike.
Francis Perkins becomes first women elevated to Secretary of Labor. Wagner-Peyser
Act creates United States Employment Service. Union membership at 2.6 million.
Newspaper Guild founded. Briggs Mfg. Strike. CA Farmworker's Strike. Detroit T&D
Strike. Hormel Strike. NM Miner’s Strike
1934 IAM establishes Research Department. Great Uprising of Southern
Millworker’s take 500,000 off the job. US joins International Labour
Organization. First National Labor Legislation Conference held to work out
national labor program. Southern Tenant Farmer’s Strike. Harlem Boycott. MN
Teamster’s Strike. Newark Newspaper Strike. San Francisco Longshoreman's Strike.
OH Auto-Lite Strike. Textile Worker’s Strike
1935 IAM opens drive to organize aircraft Industry. Wagner Act established to
protect worker’s right to organize and elect bargaining representatives.
Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) formed within the AFL with help from
JL Lewis in the United Mine Workers organization. First link between asbestos
and lung cancer discovered. 108 black steelworkers sues US Steel for unsafe
working conditions
1936 First industrial union agreement signed with Boeing, Seattle. IAM
convention endorses FDR for President. Membership climbs to 130,000. United
Rubber Workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber win recognition in first large sit-down
strike. Byrnes Act passed to make it illegal to transport or aid strikebreakers.
Walsh-Healey Act establishes labor standards for minimum wage, overtime pay.
Child & convict labor provisions & safety standards for federal contracts
1937 IAM negotiates paid vacations in 26% of its agreements. Social Security and
Railroad Retirement Acts now in operation. UAW recognized by General Motors as
legitimate bargaining unit following yearlong sit-down strikes. Steel Workers
Organizing Committee recognized by US Steel as official bargaining unit for
employees and workers earn 10% wage increase with a workweek of five-8 hour
days. Wagner Act upheld in Supreme Court. Chicago Memorial Day Massacre claims
the lives of 10 workers and wounds 80 by police breaking up a support
demonstration of steel workers rights. “Little Steel” strikes broken as members
go back to work without gaining right to representation. AFL expels CIO with
charges of dual unionism. Bureau of Apprenticeship established with passing of
National Apprenticeship Act. AFL membership at 3.7 million and CIO membership at
3.4 million. American Federation of State. County & Municipal Employees formed.
Walter Ruether and other UAW organizers beat by thugs in MI. Chocolate Worker’s
Strike Hershey PA plant.
1938 Federal Maritime Labor Board
established. Fair Labor Standards act sets minimum wage at twenty-five cents and
time & a half for hours over 40 in one week. Child labor in interstate commerce
banned. John L Lewis becomes president of Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Chicago newspaper strike begins. Hilo HA massacre occurs. Strike at Maytag.
Supreme Court makes a decision that allows employers to permanently replace
striking workers.
1939 IAM signs first union agreement in air transport industry with Eastern.
Auto Worker’s strike Chrysler. Tool & Die Worker’s strike GM. Union workers
total 8.9 million.
1940 Machinists rates average 80 cents an hour. IAM pledges full support to
National Defense program. IAM membership climbs to 188,000. AFL grows to 4.2
million as organizing of industrial unions begin. Supreme Court rules sit down
strikes are not an illegal restraint of trade. Lewis resigns as president of CIO
and is replaced by Philip Murray. Ford Motor workers strike.
1941 IAM pledges hail support to win the war including no-strike pledge. Ford
Motor Company recognizes UAW and the UAW secures the first union-shop agreement
in the auto industry. US enters WWII. AFL and CIO pledge not to strike for the
duration of the way. 10.4 million union members. Allis-Chamber strike. Captive
Coal Mines strike. International Harvester strike. NYC bus drivers strike. North
American Aviation workers strike.
1942 United Steel Workers of America
replace earlier Steel Workers Organizing Committee. National War Labor Board
established by Roosevelt to determine labor dispute settlements in time of war.
Board requires employers to enter into union security clauses. War Labor Board
establishes procedures for determining wage adjustments in wartime.
Stabilization Act passed giving presidential authority to stabilize wagers at
Sept ’42 levels
1943 Executive Order creates Committee on
Fair Employment Practices to stop discriminatory hiring in war industries based
on race, creed, color, or national origin. War Labor Act allows seizure of
plants if needed to stop interference in the war effort. Government takes over
coalmines to end UMWA strike – this paves the way for portal-to-portal pay and
other benefits.
1944 76,000 IAM members serve in armed forces. Total IAM membership now
776,000.18.6 million workers in US are unionized and 3.5 million are women.
Detroit Race riots begin.
1945 First IAM agreement with Remington Rand. IAM convention votes to establish
weekly newspaper, education department. WWII ends. World Federation of Trade
Unions created. CIO affiliates with WFTU. AFL stays out of WFTU as they are
viewed as not free and democratic. 14.7 million union workers in US. Philly
Transit workers strike. Kelsey-Hayes workers strike. NYC Longshoremen strike.
Montgomery Ward workers strike. Oil Worker’s strike.
1946 88% of IAM agreements now provide for paid vacations. The end of the war
unleashes the largest wave of strikes in history. In previous year, over 4700
strikes involving more than 3.4 million worker sweep nation. NY city janitors
win bid to have cuspidors removed from offices citing health risks. UMWA wins
health and welfare fund. Coalmines again seized by government due to strikes.
Electrical Manufacturing Strikes. Pittsburg Power strike. Railroad strike.
Steelworkers strike US Steel in 30 states.
1947 IAM Legal Department established. Machinists average $1.56 an hour.
Taft-Hartley Act passed to restrict union activities and allow for “right to
work” (FOR LESS!) laws by individual states. Norris-La Guardia Act designed to
prohibit injunctions in labor disputes is denied as applicable in Government vs.
John L Lewis. RJ Reynolds strike. Telephone workers strike.
1948 IAM membership opened to all regardless of race or color. IAM convention
endorses Harry Truman for President. UAW establishes first contract with GM that
has automatic wage increases based on CPI. First national conference on safety
meets. Progressive Party formed.
1949 Railroad machinists win 40 hour week. Membership down to 501,000. Child
labor is directly prohibited by amendment to Fair Labor Standards Act for the
first time. CIO leads an anti-communist drive at its annual convention leading
to the expulsion of two unions. Many unions engaged in democratic free trade
withdraw from WFTU and meet with 51 countries to form the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions. HA Dock strike.
1950 IAM joins International Transport Workers
Federation. Machinists now average $1.82 an hour. UAW secures five-year contract
with automatic COLA, modified union shops, and pension benefits. US enters
Korean War. NM miners begin “Salt of the Earth” strike.
1951 IAM pledges full support of UN action in Korea. Taft-Hartley Act amended to
allow union shop negotiations to occur without prior employee polls.
1952 Employees on 85% of airlines now protected by IAM agreements. 92% of IAM
contracts provide for paid holidays. An 8-week strike in the Steel Industries
follows the seizure by the Federal Government after companies rejected Wage
Stabilization Board recommendations. Supreme Court rules Steel companies seizure
as unconstitutional. AFL President Green dies and George Meany takes the
position of president. Philip Murray. CIO President. dies and is replaced by
former UAW president Walter Ruether. Coal Mine Safety Act passed. CA mine and
mill operators win their seven-month strike. Steel strike.
1953 IAM has contracts fixing wages and working conditions with 13,500
employers. IAM Atomic Energy Conference organized. AFL and CIO sign “no raiding”
pact. LA Sugar Caner Workers strike.
1954 Kohler strike begins.
1955 70% of IAM contracts now have health and welfare provisions. Machinists
average $2.33 an hour. George Meany leads efforts that result in re-unification
of AFL and CIO, Machinist Al Hayes elected Vice President and chairman of
Ethical Practices Committee. Meany is first president. Ford Motor gives in to
union demands for supplemental unemployment benefits. Southern Telephone strike.
1956 2,000th active local chartered. New ten story Machinists Building dedicated
at 1300 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC. World Health Organization raises
concerns linking asbestos to cancer. Steel strike. Canadian Labour of Congress
formed.
1957 Bakery Workers. Laundry Workers. and
Teamsters are expelled from AFL-CIO over a corruption scandal.
1958: IAM convention establishes a strike fund which was approved by the
membership in a referendum vote. IAM membership now tops 903,000.
1959 Landrum-Griffin Act passed to regulate
union’s internal affairs in wake of corruption scandals. Asbestos manufacturer
Johns Manville tests employees for but did not share results. Steel strike.
1960 IAM convention endorses JFK for President after personal visits from both
Kennedy and Richard Nixon. IAM convention establishes college scholarship
program. IAM establishes Labor Management Pension Fund. Over one million public
employees are in unions. DOL pushes for better safety and health standards in
shipyards and longshoreman jobs. Woolworth’s sit-in begins civil rights
movement. Negro American Labor Council formed. General Electric strike. Seaman’s
strike. Mother Jones passes away.
1962 IAM Electronics Conference established. Machinists now average $3.10 an
hour. President Kennedy signs Executive Order allowing Federal employee’s unions
right to bargain with all government agencies. Unions stand at 16.5 million
members. NYC Newspaper strike. East Coast Longshoremen’s strike.
1963 Pay differences based on sex
prohibited by Equal Pay Act. Kennedy assassinated.
1964 IAM convention endorses LBJ for President, after a personal appearance.
Delegates vote to change name to International Association of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers. IAM Membership at 800,000. Civil Rights Act passed after
years of struggles.
1965 United Farm Workers Committee formed.
CA grape worker’s strike.
1966 IAM members strike five major airlines and finally break through unfair
3.2% limit on wage increases. First dental care plan negotiated with Aerojet
General. Eleven unions bargain effectively with General Electric. NLRB insists
that health and safety are subject to mandatory bargaining. NYC Transportation
strike - Mike Quill leads Transit Worker Strike in New York City. Mike spent
time in jail; however, transits workers prevail and win all they struck for.
1967 Railroad machinists lead shopcrafts against nation's railroads. Congress
forces return to work and arbitration. Copper Strikes begin.
1968 IAM membership tops 1,000,000. Machinists average $3.44 an hour. Age
Discrimination in Employment Act passed to protect workers between 40 and 65
years of age. Alliance for Labor Action formed as UAW withdraws from AFL-CIO and
joins Teamsters. WV coalmine explosion kills 78 miners. 28% of America’s
workforce is union – 18.9 million. Prisoners I n textile operations in Atlanta
find high levels of brown lung. Nixon elected president. Martin Luther King Jr
assassinated while supporting TN sanitation strike. NYC Teacher’s strike.
1969 IAM member, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin, the first space mechanic walks on the
moon. Philadelphia construction industries pressured by Department of Labor to
promote minority hiring. SC Hospital Worker’s strike.
1970 IAM is one of 19 unions in first successful coordinated bargaining effort
against GE. US Postal Service struck by employees. Hawaii allows local and state
officials to strike – a first in the US. OSHA established by Congress. 42000 WV
coalminer’s go on wildcat strike to get Black Lung compensation rights.
1971 IAM wins biggest back pay award in history, more than $54,500,00 for 1,000
members locked out illegally by National Airlines. IAM establishes Job Safety &
Health Department. NYC Police strike.
1972 IAM membership drops to 902,000 as a result of recession and layoffs in
defense industries. IAM President Floyd Smith quits U.S. Pay Board to protest
unfair economic policies. IAM convention endorses Sen. George McGovern for
President. Black Lung Benefits Act passes. GM strike. Federal Coal Mine Health
and Safety Act takes effect. Farah Clothing Worker’s strike. OH Auto Worker’s
strike. Philly teacher’s strike. Quebec general strike begins.
1973 IAM and UAW hold first joint Legislative Conference with 1,000 delegates in
attendance. Machinists average $4.71 an hour. IAM membership rises to 927,000.
United Steel Workers gives up right to strike in return for binding arbitration
in an experimental negotiation agreement. Civil Service workers in Washington
gain nation’s first rights to unionize this sector. Caesar Chavez leads United
Farm Workers into the AFL-CIO.
1974 Watergate Scandal breaks and casts
suspicions on unions. Coalition of Labor Union women formed. Employee Retirement
Income Security Act regulates pension funds. Public employee department created
in AFL-CIO. Non-profit hospital workers win right to organize. Baltimore Police
strike. Karen Silkwood dies mysteriously during organizational drive with Oil.
Chemical. and Atomic workers at Kerr-McGee.
1975 District 837 Strikes McDonnell Douglas. AFSCME, representing public
employees, leads 80,000-person strike. Congress defeats union’s attempt to
reform labor laws.
1976 IAM convention endorses Jimmy Carter for U.S. President Delegates vote to
set up Civil Rights and Organizing departments and expand community services
program. Women union workers are 4.3 million strong. Carter elected US
president. Congress beats back attempt to allow construction workers a right to
organize and strike. 1 million Canadian workers stage demonstrations against
wage controls.
1977 William W. Winpisinger sworn in as the lAM's 11th president. Minimum wage
increased to $2.65. Coal Strike. Coors Beer strike and Boycott begins.
J.P.Stevens workers strike. MN Bank Workers strike.
1978 Union jobs in manufacturing decreases
by 400,000. Federal employees win right to organize with Civil Service Reform
Act. Four month coal miner strike focuses Ion right to strike for safety
reasons. PA Newspaper strike.
1979 Lake Kirkland becomes AFL-CIO
president. Independent Trucker’s strike. Citizen/Labor Energy Coalition launches
first Stop Big Oil day to protest obscene profits by oil conglomerates while
American workers' paychecks continue to shrink.
1980 IAM media project begins. Thousands of IAM members and their families
monitor prime time TV to determine media's portrayal of working people and
unions. Joyce Meyers becomes first women on AFL-CIO Executive Board. Reagan
elected US president.
1981 Older Workers and Retired Members Department is established at Grand Lodge.
Reagan fires most American air traffic controllers and de-certifies their union.
500,000 workers march on DC to protest budget cuts and labor policies under
Reagan. Baseball Player’s strike.
1982: Reaganomics grips nation. Individual and corporate bankruptcies reach
epidemic proportions. IAM membership begins drop to 820,211.
1983 IAM introduces 'Rebuilding America' act to Congress as alternative to
Reaganomics and to rebuild nation’s industrial base. Philip Dodge Copper strike.
1984 IAM convention in Seattle WA, endorses Walter Mondale for U.S. President.
Delegates vote funding for Placid Harbor Education Center to improve the level
of understanding of workers in an ever changing world. Reagan re-elected. Yale
University Clerical Worker’s strike.
1985 Hormel Meatpacker’s strike begins. LA
Sanitation District Strike.
1986 Federal Right to Know standards
established. Federal regulations on asbestos in America’s schools are
established. TWA Flight Attendant’s strike. USX (US STEEL) Lockout.
1987 IAM Executive Council establishes new Organizing Department, the first ever
to be headed by a Vice President. First IAM Communications Conference convened
in Kansas City, MO. Paper Worker’s Strike and Lockout starts. Professional
Football Payer’s strike.
1988 IAM celebrates 100th anniversary in Atlanta, GA, on May 5. George Bush
elected US President. NY Home Care Worker’s strike – 60,000 strong.
1989 George J. Kourpias sworn in as the IAM's 12th president. Eastern Airline
Worker’s strike. Pittston Coal struck by Mine Workers.
1990 Delta Pride Catfish Worker’s strike.
1991 300,000-unionist march on DC demanding
workplace fairness and health care reform. 25 workers killed in non-union
Imperial Food plant. Hotel Normandy strike.
1992 IAM moves to new state-of-the-art headquarters building in Upper Marlboro,
MD, to keep pace with technological changes and serve members' needs well into
21st Century; IAM convenes 33rd convention at Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Clinton
elected US president. Caterpillar strike. Police attack janitors demonstrating
for justice on the job in Century City.
1993 Decatur IL Staley Lockout. North
American Free Trade Agreement passed. Caesar Chavez dies.
1994: International Woodworkers of America ratify merger agreement. More than
20,000 members join IAM family. Some 8,000 USAir fleet service workers say "IAM
yes." Machinist newspaper bids fond farewell, reborn as IAM Journal magazine.
1995: IAM, Auto and Steelworker unions debate plans for unification by year
2000. Unity plan sparks solidarity. Plan would create largest, most diverse
union in North America, with more than 2,000,000 active members, 1, 400, 000
retirees. Sixty-nine day strike brings major victory in new contract at Boeing.
Members air their views during first round of Town Hall meetings.
1996 IAM District 837 strikes McDonnell Douglas in STL. Fighting Machinists'
spearhead political battle for worker rights. Union efforts provide winning edge
in Clinton-Gore presidential victory. Meeting in Chicago, IAM Convention
delegates build bridge to 21st century. Delegates establish IAM Women's
Department.
1997 On July 1, Robert Thomas Buffenbarger, 46, takes office as13th
International president in 109-year IAM history, moves quickly to reshape Union
to reflect growing diversity, interests, concerns of IAM members. Former IAM
President Winpisinger dies Dec. 11.
1998 New Blue
Ribbon Commission empanelled to provide membership forum to voice opinions.
Placid Harbor facility renamed Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to
honor visionary union leader, who brought the facility into being.
