Today in labor history

[Omaha Steve]

April 13



April 13, 1894 - The Great Northern rail strike began in Helena, Montana, quickly spreading across the system and reaching St. Paul a few days later. The conflict pitted Eugene V. Debs, president of the American Railway Union, against James J. Hill, the “Empire Builder” who owned the railroad. Industrialists, alarmed by the shutdown of their critical rail links, mediated and reached a settlement granting nearly all of the union’s demands. The strike became the first clear-cut victory for the ARU and resulted in thousands joining the new union.

April 13, 1903 - Minneapolis Sign and Pictorial Local No. 880 was organized.


International Hod Carriers & Building Laborers’ Union (today’s Laborers’ Int’l Union) is founded, as 25 delegates from 23 Local Unions in 17 cities—representing 8,186 Laborers—meet in Washington DC - 1903

Labor leader and Socialist Party founder Eugene V. Debs is imprisoned for opposing American entry into World War I. While in jail he ran for president, received 1 million votes - 1919