Labor Guild Admin on LinkedIn: Labor History Blog July 2024: The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 - Labor… (2024)

📅 June 11th in Labor History 📅1894: Representatives from the AFL, Knights of Labor, Populists, railroad brotherhoods, and other trade unions hold a unity conference in St. Louis. Despite their shared goal of improving workers' rights and conditions, they struggle to overcome ideological and strategic differences, leading to a lack of unified action. This conference highlights the challenges of creating a cohesive labor movement during a time of intense industrialization and labor unrest.1913: In New Orleans, police open fire on maritime workers striking against United Fruit Co., leading to a tragic outcome: one worker killed and two others wounded. The strike was part of a broader struggle for better wages and working conditions in a time when labor rights were fiercely contested.1969: John L. Lewis, a towering figure in American labor history, passes away. As president of the United Mine Workers from 1920 to 1960, Lewis played a pivotal role in improving working conditions and wages for miners. He was also instrumental in forming the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which organized industrial workers across various sectors. His leadership and vision significantly shaped the labor movement in the 20th century.#LaborHistory #EqualPay #WorkersRights #OnThisDay #UFCW #solidarity

📅 June 11th in Labor History 📅1894: Representatives from the AFL, Knights of Labor, Populists, railroad brotherhoods, and other trade unions hold a unity conference in St. Louis. Despite their shared goal of improving workers' rights and conditions, they struggle to overcome ideological and strategic differences, leading to a lack of unified action. This conference highlights the challenges of creating a cohesive labor movement during a time of intense industrialization and labor unrest.1913: In New Orleans, police open fire on maritime workers striking against United Fruit Co., leading to a tragic outcome: one worker killed and two others wounded. The strike was part of a broader struggle for better wages and working conditions in a time when labor rights were fiercely contested.1969: John L. Lewis, a towering figure in American labor history, passes away. As president of the United Mine Workers from 1920 to 1960, Lewis played a pivotal role in improving working conditions and wages for miners. He was also instrumental in forming the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which organized industrial workers across various sectors. His leadership and vision significantly shaped the labor movement in the 20th century.#LaborHistory #EqualPay #WorkersRights #OnThisDay #UFCW #solidarity

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Let's discuss South American labor movements.Labor movements in South America emerged as a response to exploitative labor conditions, often in the face of unyielding industrialization. It was the unity of these workers, galvanizing through labor movements, that began to shift the power dynamics between labor and capital. Learn more about the history and future of labor unions and movements in South America by clicking below:

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Did you know that Labor Day was not an official US holiday until the 1890s? This article was an interesting history on the holiday, and why we choose to honor those participating in the American force with a holiday and (for many) a day off! #laborday #americanworkforce

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Happy Labor Day! Check out this article to learn the history of Labor Day and how the holiday came to be!

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First Two “Negotiation Notes” Post To VSEA.org:VSEA Labor Relations Director Gary Hoadley has posted his first two “Negotiation Notes” to the VSEA website, and members belonging to one of VSEA’s three Executive Branch Bargaining Units are urged to give it a read. You can find the Negotiation Notes here: https://lnkd.in/epT3pPPjNote: VSEA.org login is required to view this information. VSEA members and Retirees who do not already have a VSEA.org account may request one for free here: https://bit.ly/2YrksBZQuestions About VSEA Executive Branch Unit Bargaining? Contact A Bargaining Team Member!Not sure who your VSEA Bargaining Team members are or how to contact them? Click on the link below to find out and then contact them personally with your bargaining question(s), concern(s), etc.VSEA Executive Branch Unit Bargaining Team Members: https://bit.ly/3RLxcN5

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AMFA-WJ NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE #18: WJ REFUSES TO NEGOTIATE; AMFA ISSUES 72-HOUR STRIKE NOTICELink: https://lnkd.in/gHpbyGDBJune 17, 2024A more cutting demonstration of WestJet’s disrespect for its Tech Ops employees could hardly be conceived. Tonight Vice President Tech Ops Gandeephan Ganeshalingam advised AMFA President Bret Oestreich that WestJet is refusing to proceed with negotiations scheduled for June 19 and 20 in Calgary.After the resolute rejection of the tentative agreement by 97.5 percent of the voting AMEs, the parties agreed that a crisis existed that must be addressed immediately. Dates and a city location for negotiations were set. AME representatives had booked their flights. The Union had commenced its preparation of a one-page list of revisions designed to shift sufficient “no” votes so that a new agreement could be successfully ratified.WestJet now refuses to negotiate despite previous commitments by several Company executives that bargaining would continue through this week.Moreover, the airline has filed a submission to force the AMEs to arbitrate the terms of their collective bargaining agreement. The tactic is a clever one. If adopted by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, it would utterly frustrate the AMEs’ goal of reaching an industry-changing contract because arbitrators are generally driven by industry “norms” – the same norms that have kept AMEs under the heel of management and industrial unions which favour the unskilled majority. WestJet seeks to enlist the government of Canada as its accomplice. Its expressed objective is to use the government to impose the tentative agreement rejected by the membership or a potentially inferior agreement developed by an arbitrator.We are left with only one response. It is time to march, demonstrate, and lobby your elected officials. You must do your part. This must not stand. AMFA has served WestJet with legal notice of the bargaining unit’s intention to strike beginning at 9 pm Eastern Time on June 20, 2024. Until that time, we ask all bargaining unit members to refrain from economic self-help activities.Fraternally,AMFA-WestJet Negotiating Committee

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I read this article which analyzed who the winners and losers are of the recently ended WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The main points that caught my attention were the losers of the strike: DGA and California's economy. These are topics I have been asking about the most throughout the strikes. What if the DGA had held out longer? What about the folks being forced to stop work who aren’t affiliated with the guilds?I thought about how the DGA ended the negotiations well before the other guilds. I thought about the ripple effects that comes from that decision and why the DGA might have chosen to do that. The DGA got increased minimums by a compounded 6.6% over 3 years. The writers are getting a 5% increase on minimums this year, with other bonuses built into the deal. Actors got a decent deal for themselves as well. One thing I wonder about the DGA’s swiftness to make a deal may be the connection that the DGA has with studios as opposed to the other guilds. Had the DGA held out longer, this may have worked to the advantage of the other guilds, shortening the work stoppage sooner for all. On this topic, the work stoppage caused huge losses to California's economy and was a difficult space for Gavin Newsom to negotiate. The article says Newsom had the chance to come out of the strike viewed well on the side of nature, but took an at best lukewarm approach. He vetoed pro-strike legislation, which allowed striking workers to collect unemployment. The article also posited that when IATSE’s contract ends next year, having this type of legislation in place would help strikers and others affected by the strike who work under the line.Esquire Group Inc.

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The Significance of Labor DayEvery first Monday of September, Americans come together to celebrate Labor Day. But why is this day so special? Labor Day isn’t just the unofficial end of summer or a day for BBQs and relaxation—it’s a tribute to the American worker.The origins of Labor Day trace back to the labor union movement, especially the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. The first recognized Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. Since then, the day has become a nationwide event, culminating in its recognition as a federal holiday in 1894.Today, Labor Day serves as a reminder of the struggles, achievements, and contributions of American workers. It’s a day to honor the backbone of the nation, the ones who build, innovate, and strive for better working conditions and a brighter future. As you enjoy your day off, take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices and accomplishments of the American workforce.

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I was asked for advice on some labor negotiations and was told, "A strike is inevitable." My immediate reaction: "That's a closed mindset talking." Yes, we are in a time when strikes seem to be getting more media attention, we've had some significant national labor disputes, and strikes seem to be labor's default, but "inevitable" is just lazy. Most of us don't live in the world of UPS or the UAW where a strike garners national attention and the contracts basically set wages for an industry. For the rest of us, strikes are unsettling at best and (IMHO) show an inability to negotiate successfully. Sure, there are times when I've been completely blindsided and when a group of employees wanted to "air their frustration." I've also locked out employees in an effort to bargain hard - but that's few and far between. So my advice to my colleague was, "A strike is rarely inevitable. If you want to avoid it - get creative. Expand the definition of interested parties: sub-groups of employees / families / community? Expand the negotiations: Bring in new topics or new voices (from both sides)." A good negotiator, IMO, needs to take on the skills of a good leader to avoid costly labor disruption and get deals done that make sense.

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