Today in labor history May 15 A major focus of the union was the inferior status of women workers

[Omaha Steve]

May 15

The Library Employees’ Union is founded in New York City, the first union of public library workers in the United States. A major focus of the union was the inferior status of women library workers and their low salaries - 1917


May 15, 1919 - Workers in Winnipeg, Canada, participated in a huge general strike. Read more about the strike at
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008649

The first labor bank opens in Washington, D.C., launched by officers of the Machinists. The Locomotive Engineers opened a bank in Cleveland later that year - 1920

Death of IWW song writer T-Bone Slim, New York City - 1942

Wall Street Journal reporter Jonathon Kwitney reports that AFL-CIO President George Meany, Sec.-Treas. Lane Kirkland and other union officials are among the 60 leading stockholders in the 15,000 acre Punta Cana, Dominican Republic resort. When the partners needed help clearing the land, the Dominican president sent troops to forcibly evict stubborn, impoverished tobacco farmers and fishermen who had lived there for generations, according to Kwitney’s expose - 1973

Labor history found here: http://www.biglabor.com/history.php & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_05_15_2009