Today in Labor History May 21 Sacco and Vanzetti go on trial, “Little Wagner Act” is signed in Hawai

[Omaha Steve]

May 21


May 21, 1911 - William “Big Bill” Haywood, an officer of the Western Federation of Miners and later a leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, gave an address at the Minneapolis Auditorium.

About his appearance, the Minneapolis Labor Review wrote, "Haywood is a giant of a man, strong as a bull. He is big in body, in brain and in courage. He looks a fighter and is a fighter. He has been a fighter all his life. As a mere boy he fought for his daily bread in mines In Utah and Idaho. The mine owners and corporations may think they have him beaten. They may dwell a year or two in sweet dreams of peace and security, but In the end they will have to reckon with this genius among labor generals."

Read the article and more about Haywood in the Minneapolis Labor Review archive. Go to www.minneapolisunions.org and click on the archive link on the homepage.

Italian activists and anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, widely believed to have been framed for murder, go on trial today. They eventually are executed as part of a government campaign against dissidents – 1921

The “Little Wagner Act” is signed in Hawaii, guaranteeing pineapple and sugar workers the right to bargain collectively. After negotiations failed a successful 79-day strike shut down 33 of the territory’s 34 plantations and brought higher wages and a 40-hour week - 1945

May 21, 1946 - A nationwide coal strike prompted the U.S. government to seize control of the mines to continue production.

Nearly 100,000 unionized SBC Communications Inc. workers begin a four-day strike to protest the local phone giant’s latest contract offer - 2004

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_05_21_2010