2/6/2018 History

Today in Labor History – February 06, 1896 – Sixteen Ironworkers from six cities met in Pittsburgh to conclude the formation of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers which was chartered February 4th, 1896. At the time their pay in Pittsburgh was $2.75 for a 9-hour day.

1910 – Philadelphia shirtwaist makers vote to accept arbitration offer and end walkout as Triangle Shirtwaist strike winds down. One year later 146 workers, mostly young girls aged 13 to 23, were to die in a devastating fire at Triangle’s New York City sweatshop.

1919 – Seattle General Strike begins. The city was run by a General Strike Committee for six days as tens of thousands of union members stopped work in support of 32,000 striking longshoremen.