Today in Labor History May 8 FIRST African-American labor union to sign a bargaining agreement!

[Omaha Steve]

May 8

The constitution of the Brotherhood of the Footboard was ratified by engineers in Detroit, Mich. Later became the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers - 1863

May 8, 1903 - The Minneapolis Sprinkler Fitters & Helpers Union Local No. 417 was organized with 15 members.

Jerry Wurf, who was to serve as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) from 1964 to his death 1981, born in New York City. The union grew from about 220,000 members to more than 1 million during his presidency - 1919


A. Philip Randolph
May 8, 1925 - A. Philip Randolph and Milton P. Webster founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The Brotherhood was the very first African-American labor union to sign a collective bargaining agreement with a major U.S. corporation.

Read more about the Brotherhood at http://www.aphiliprandolphmuseum.com/evo_history.html

About 200 construction workers in New York City attack a crowd of Viet Nam war protesters four days after the Kent State killings. More than 70 people were injured, including four police officers. Peter Brennan, head of the New York building trades, was honored at the Nixon White House two weeks later, eventually named Secretary of Labor - 1970

12,000 Steelworker-represented workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber win an 18-day strike for improved wages and job security - 1997

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