Today in labor history August 14 President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act

[Omaha Steve]

August 14

President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, providing, for the first time ever, guaranteed income for retiress and creating a system of unemployment benefits (creating the most successful anti-poverty program in U.S. history)- 1935

Members of the upstart Polish union Solidarity seize the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk. Sixteen days later the government officially recognizes the union - 1980



August 14, 1999 - Former AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland died at the age of 77. A longtime assistant to AFL-CIO President George Meany, Kirkland succeeded Meany upon his death in 1979. Kirkland resigned in mid-1995, when it became clear unions were seeking new leadership in the federation. Kirkland may have been best known for his staunch anti-Communism and strong support of the Solidarity movement in Poland.