October 31st: 1936 Gulf Coast maritime workers' strike began

On this day in labor history, the 1936 Gulf Coast maritime workers' strike began, mainly effecting the Houston and Galveston areas. Throughout the 1930s, longshoremen's strikes became common, often erupting into violence, with Black workers facing the greatest risks. Declining wages and poor conditions under the ineffective and corrupt International Seamen’s Union (ISU) drove workers to stage wildcat strikes and form the “Maritime Federation of the Gulf Coast.” Uniting workers across racial lines was a major challenge, as Black dockworkers were still banned from certain ports. A smaller protest by Black stewards in Galveston had sparked wider action, and union leader Joseph Curran came to Texas to support the organizing effort, immediately encountering police hostility. On October 31, members of the Maritime Federation struck, facing fierce opposition from the ISU, shipowners, and police. Former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, now a strikebreaker, intensified tensions by targeting unionists. Violent clashes between strikers and police continued until public outcry prompted local leaders to negotiate an end, with the strike concluding in January 1937. This Gulf Coast strike paralleled a Pacific Coast maritime strike, helping catalyze the formation of the National Maritime Union.

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October 30^(th): Attorney General Meese addressed workplace drug use in 1986

On this day in labor history, in 1986, U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, serving under President Reagan, encouraged employers to monitor employees for drug use. Speaking before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Meese urged supervisors to surveil areas such as parking lots, locker rooms, and even bars where employees might gather after hours, in an effort to address what he called widespread workplace drug use. He argued that, since most Americans are employed, workplaces are prime settings to identify and prevent drug use. While a spokesperson emphasized that Meese was not advocating for any infringement on civil liberties, Meese asserted—without evidence—that each drug-using employee cost their employer $7,000 annually and suggested that testing and sanctions could reduce usage. He also recommended that companies adopt clear, enforceable policies on drug use, alongside providing information on drugs and treatment options.

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On this day in 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their first championship since 1918- almost 90 years.

October 27th: National Negro Labor Council formed in 1951

On this day in labor history, the National Negro Labor Council (NNLC) formed in 1951. The council was inspired by the June 1950 Chicago National Trade Union Conference for Negro Rights, where over 1,000 Black advocates pledged to form a network to mobilize Black labor. The NNLC was also formed to combat the dominance of white labor, with Black activists taking matters of organization and strategy into their own hands. Less than a year after NNLC’s founding, 23 separate councils in major industrial areas were created. Councils worked to rectify injustices in sharecropping and industrial work, areas that were often overlooked by other labor organizations. The NNLC drew criticism due to their avid antiracism, desire to end Jim Crow, and connection with Communists. In 1952, the council sought over 100,000 new jobs for workers subjected to Jim Crow, seeing some early successes. The NNLC established training courses for youth previously excluded from apprenticeships. Their activities and communist ties drew ire from HUAC and labor leaders like UAW’s Walter Reuther, who sought to consolidate power. The council dissolved in 1956, replaced by the anticommunist National Negro Labor Committee. Sources in comments.

October 26th: Eerie Canal opened in 1825

On this day in labor history, the Eerie Canal opened in 1825. A canal connecting the Hudson River to Lake Eerie was first seriously proposed by Governor Dewitt Clinton in the early 1800s. Many thought the endeavor was folly, but there were a few well established supporters that saw to its construction. Construction commenced on July 4th, 1817, with some 50,000 workers in total, digging the canal. Initially, local farmers were the majority laborers, seeking profits that would come from access to new markets. However, as construction progressed, these workers grew unwilling to work in hazardous conditions. At this time, dynamite had not yet been invented and large, industrial movers were years away. This led to the transition from a native workforce to an immigrant one, with recent Irish immigrants taking most of the unwanted jobs. The engineering marvel was finally opened by Governor Clinton in 1825. Revenue from the canal grew rapidly as goods from the west now had easy access to the port of New York. The canals prominence would dwindle during the later 1800s as railroads became dominant.

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October 25th: 2011 Bonus Car Wash strike ended

On this day in labor history, the 2011 Bonus Car Wash strike ended in Southern California after 3 years. At the time, car wash workers, who were predominantly Latino immigrants, earned very little and were subject to illegal wage practices, often receiving either a flat rate regardless of hours worked or no wage at all, relying solely on tips to make a living. Another issue workers raised was the lack of regular compensation, with owners often withholding payment. In 2008, eight workers went on a brief wildcat strike over payment and work conditions. The strikers soon garnered support from the United Steel Workers (USW) and the non-profit coalition Community Labor Environmental Action Network (CLEAN). Labor organizers shared information about the Car Wash Worker Law by handing out water bottles with information printed on it. The labor action soon transformed from a demand for owed wages to an effort to better standards. On October 25th, workers joined the local USW and received a contract that saw guaranteed breaks along with water, health and safety protections, and an income set at the minimum wage. Sources in comments.

Due to strong disagreements between Admiral Chester Nimitz, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and General Douglas MacArthur, who had overall command of the invasion forces charged with liberating the Philippines, the Seventh Fleet was ordered to report to MacArthur while the Third Fleet was ordered to report to Nimitz. This resulted in poor communication and coordination. On October 25, 1944, the Japanese successfully lured the Third Fleet north after a decoy fleet. Meanwhile most of the Seventh Fleet was engaged to the south of the Leyte Gulf, where MacArthur's Sixth Army had landed.

As planned, after the decoy fleet drew off the Third Fleet, the Imperial Japanese Navy's First Mobile Striking Force advanced towards Leyte Gulf. The only ships standing between the Japanese and the Sixth Army was the small Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3"), which was intended to provide shore support and anti-submarine patrols and did not have guns capable of penetrating the Japanese armor.

Taffy 3 had only six small escort aircraft carriers, three destroyers, and four destroyer escorts. The six small escort aircraft carriers carried about 165 aircraft, equivalent to two fleet carriers. But the carriers had a top speed of only 18 knots, far less than the Japanese cruisers and destroyers capable of 30 knots. The destroyers were nicknamed "tin cans" due to their relatively light construction compared to larger warships like battleships and cruisers. The destroyer escorts were even slower and weaker than the destroyers, as they were designed to escort slow convoys of merchant ships and protect them from submarines.

The Japanese, on the other hand, had four battleships that were among the heaviest and most powerfully armed war ships ever constructed. They had six heavy cruisers which were smaller, faster, and more lightly-armed and armored than the battleships but still much larger and better armed and armored than any of the ships in Taffy 3. They also had two light cruisers and eleven destroyers.

Thus, the Americans had no battleships, no heavy cruisers, and no light cruisers to match the four battleships, six heavy cruisers, and two light cruisers in the Japanese striking force. And the American destroyers were outnumbered by eleven to three.

At 6:45 in the morning, the formidable Japanese strike force came upon the weak American task force, achieving complete tactical surprise. However, the Japanese admiral could not find the silhouettes of the tiny American escort carriers in his identification manuals, and mistook them for the much larger American fleet carriers. He therefore assumed that he had a task group of the Third Fleet under his guns.

This mistake caused the admiral to immediately order a general attack rather than take the time to carefully orchestrate a coordinated effort. The order caused confusion among the Japanese ships, giving the American rear admiral in charge of the task force time to lead the Japanese into a stern chase. The stern is the back of the ship, and a stern chase restricted the Japanese to using only their forward guns and limited their use of anti-aircraft gunnery.

Meanwhile the Americans had more stern weapons than forward weapons, and the American carriers would still be able to operate aircraft. This significantly reduced the difference in firepower between the Americans and Japanese during the chase, although the Americans were still significantly outgunned.

The American fleet sailed toward a squall and generated smoke, hoping to hide from the Japanese. The carriers also took evasive action and launched their aircraft, despite the fact that few of the aircraft were not armed with the anti-ship bombs or aerial torpedos that would have enabled them to damage heavily armed Japanese ships. The American planes used whatever they had to attack the Japanese ships, and many made dry runs even after they ran out of ammunition in order to provide a distraction. Then they flew to an airstrip in the Philippines to refuel.

Concerned that his destroyers would burn too much fuel in a stern chase of what he presumed were fast carriers while obstructing his battleships' line of fire, the Japanese admiral ordered his eleven destroyers to the rear of his formation. Meanwhile the three American destroyers and four American destroyer escorts laid down smoke to hide the carriers. Then they made desperate torpedo runs against the heavily armored Japanese battleships and cruisers.

The profiles of the American ships and their aggressive attacks convinced the Japanese that the American destroyers were cruisers and the American destroyer escorts were full-sized destroyers. Therefore the Japanese fired armor-piercing rounds against what they assumed were heavily armored ships. Ironically, the light armor of the American ships allowed the armor-piercing rounds to pass right through without exploding. Furthermore, their speed and agility enabled some ships to dodge shellfire completely before launching torpedoes. 

Eventually, though, after failing to do damage, the Japanese gunners switched from armor-piercing rounds to high-explosive (HE) shells, which caused much damage. Yet effective damage control and redundancy in propulsion and power systems allowed the American ships to keep running after absorbing dozens of hits, even though the decks were littered with the dead and seriously wounded.

The air and destroyer attacks broke up the Japanese formations. Defying the odds, the American ships sank or crippled three of the Japanese heavy cruisers, which seemed to confirm to the Japanese that they were engaging major fleet units rather than escort carriers and destroyers. The Japanese admiral was convinced that the rest of the American Third Fleet wasn't far away and could show up at any moment.

The Japanese had their own communication problems, as they were not informed that the Third Fleet had taken the bait and were far from the battle. Meanwhile they also heard that another Japanese strike force that was supposed to join with them had been destroyed by the Seventh Fleet. At that point the Japanese admiral decided the fight was not worth further losses and broke off engagement.

Against all odds, a tiny, outgunned American task force had driven off a much larger and more powerful Japanese strike force that threatened the liberation of the Philippines. While there was a fair amount of luck involved -- i.e., the mistaken assumptions and bad communications among the Japanese -- that would not have mattered if not for what were essentially suicidal attacks by American ships that were nevertheless far more effective than one would expect from such a mismatch.

The Americans lost two out of six escort carriers, two out of three destroyers, one out of four destroyer escorts, and 23 aircraft. In addition, the other four escort carriers were damaged, the one surviving destroyer was damaged, and two of the three surviving destroyer escorts were damaged. 1,161 Americans were killed or missing and 913 were wounded.

The Japanese lost three out of six heavy cruisers, 11 aircraft, no battleships, no destroyers, no light cruisers, and no destroyers. Two out of four battleships were damaged, the three surviving heavy cruisers were damaged, and one destroyer was damaged. More than 2,700 Japanese were killed or wounded.

The American task force was later issued a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. Here's how the citation described their actions:

"For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait towards Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit's valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy's heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

October 24th: 40-hour work week went into effect in 1940

On this day in labor history, the 40-hour work week went into effect in 1940. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established the eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek, while also allowing for up to four hours of overtime to be compensated at one and a half times the regular wage. As part of the New Deal aimed at alleviating the effects of the Great Depression, the act sought to reduce unemployment by distributing work among more people, though it didn’t cover all workers. The push for an eight-hour workday had started nearly a century earlier, driven by unions and labor activists advocating for fairer working hours.

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October 23rd: 1989 Phillips disaster occurred

On this day in labor history, the 1989 Phillips disaster occurred at the Phillips Petroleum Company's Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, Texas. On the afternoon of October 23rd, an explosion wrang out at the high-density polyethylene plant, where materials for plastic containers are manufactured. During a routine release of flammable gases, the gases accumulated inside the plant instead of being safely discharged, igniting, and causing an explosion that killed 23 people and injured hundreds. The blast was so large it registered a 3.5 on the Richter Scale. It took over 10 hours to put out the fires caused by the explosion. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) discovered that the safety valves had been reversed, causing the blast. The OSHA report found many other failings at the Phillips plant, including a lack of standardized operating procedures and risk analysis. OSHA dispensed 566 willful violations and 9 serious violations. The plant was repaired and is still in operation today. Sources in comments.

October 22nd: 1945-1946 Charleston Cigar Factory strike began

On this day in labor history, the Charleston Cigar Factory strike of 1945–1946 began in South Carolina, sparked by management's refusal to raise wages and blatant racial discrimination. Tensions escalated when a white manager fired a Black man after a white supervisor accused him of fraternizing with Black female coworkers, who made up most of the workforce. Black workers saw the firing as racially motivated. A sit-down strike by 100 workers, organized by the Food, Tobacco, and Allied Workers union, led to their firing. In response, nearly 1,000 Black workers walked off the job. By October 22nd, the strike was in full swing, with demands for back pay, higher wages, medical benefits, a closed shop, and non-discrimination clauses. Picket lines faced relentless harassment from police, segregationists, and strikebreakers. Impressively, solidarity between races was achieved, with support coming from both white and Black locals. The National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of backpay. The strike concluded in April 1946, winning an 8-cent-per-hour raise, back pay, and a loosening of racial barriers to skilled positions. Sources in comments.

October 21st: Third stage of 1933 Wisconsin milk strike began

On this day in labor history, the third stage of the 1933 Wisconsin milk strike began. As a result of the Great Depression, farmers received a smaller share of profits while prices continued to decline. Inflation worsened the situation, particularly for small dairy farmers whose milk was used for products other than bottling. This hardship prompted the formation of cooperative milk pools, which united with larger farming organizations to advocate politically for their interests. One prominent example was the Wisconsin Cooperative Milk Pool. As farmers' frustration mounted from government inaction, the Milk Pool organized a statewide strike in mid-February 1933, aiming to disrupt dairy production, but it ultimately failed. Subsequent strikes became more violent. The second strike in May saw clashes in front of dairy plants, with strikers tainting milk with kerosene. The third strike, beginning on October 21st, was the most violent, with bombings of creameries. It ended on November 18th after concessions to investigate milk prices. However, real relief didn’t come until federal intervention.

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October 19th: National Association of Letter Carriers achieved equalization of wages in 1949

On this day in labor history, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) achieved equalization of wages in 1949. The NALC represents city mail carriers and was founded in 1889, following a call for a national organization by the Milwaukee Letter Carriers. Throughout their history, the primary concern for union members has been securing fair wages. On October 19, 1949, the union realized one of its key goals: the equalization of wages for all letter carriers, regardless of the size or population of their assigned areas.

October 20th: Country and Western singer Merle Travis died

On this day in labor history, Country and Western singer Merle Travis died in 1983 aged 65. He was born in Rosewood, Kentucky on November 29th, 1917. The region is a major coal-producing area, where Travis's father worked as a miner. Many of his songs would go on to address the plight and exploitation of the American miner. Such songs include “Dark as a Dungeon” and “Sixteen Tons”. Travis famously developed a syncopated guitar picking style, enabling musicians to pluck bass notes with their thumb while using their index finger to play the melody.

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October 18th: 1927-1928 Colorado Coal Strike began

On this day in labor history, the 1927 to 1928 Colorado Coal strike began. In 1925, Colorado mine owners reduced wages in response to an economic downturn. By the winter of 1927, miners had grown increasingly restless, their discontent fueled by the recent executions of Sacco and Vanzetti in August. The International Workers of the World (IWW) supported the miners in their efforts to secure better wages and helped organize the ethnically diverse work force, who had been left aside by the United Mine Workers (UMW). The pending strike was declared illegal by the State Industrial Commission, angering many labor organizations. Violence soon engulfed IWW members, with organizers facing arrests on fabricated charges, as well as beatings and robberies. Even under the threat of violence, miners still gathered and voted to endorse the strike. Despite many coming out against the action, including the United Mine Workers, the strike was called and thousands of miners walked out on October 18th. This led to the closing of nearly all the mines in the state and would see a period of intense violence that would ultimately result in an increase in wages. Sources in comments.

October 17th: 1950 Empire Zinc strike began

On this day in labor history, the 1950 Empire Zinc strike began in Grant County, New Mexico. The predominantly Hispanic workforce, represented by the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers (IUMMSW), had called for an end to discriminatory practices, including a tiered pay structure that paid Hispanic workers less than their white counterparts. Miners staged a picket outside the company gates for over eight months but were halted by a court injunction. To avoid jail time, the miners left the picket lines, and their wives stepped in to continue the protest. The women expanded the demands to include better living conditions, such as indoor plumbing. While the women led the protests, their husbands took over the household responsibilities. The picketing women were occasionally arrested and antagonized by police, with intermittent bursts of violence occurring. The strike ended after 15 months in January 1952, resulting in a new contract that saw better wages and living conditions. The strike would serve the basis for the film Salt of the Earth. Sources in comments.

October 15th: Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 enacted

On this day in labor history, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 was enacted. The act was drafted to amend and improve the earlier Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. This previous act gave the federal government the power to dissolve trusts that restrained competition and threatened commerce. To adhere to the new law, many businesses merged together in order to keep their market power, strengthening the influence of a few men rather than limiting it. Ironically, the Sherman Antitrust Act was more readily applied to trade unions than to companies. While the Sherman Act only made monopolies illegal, the new Clayton Act made business practices that could result in the formation of monopolies illegal. This included types of holding companies and the distribution of sales territories, among other practices. The Clayton Act also contained measures that exempted labor organizations and permitted strike related activities.

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October 13th: Labor historian John R. Commons born in 1862

On this day in labor history, economist, and labor historian John R. Commons was born in Hollansburg, Ohio in 1862. Raised Christian, Commons took to its message and became a young advocate for social justice. He was an early admirer of Henry George’s ‘single tax’, which sought to replace all taxes with one based on land values. Commons graduated from Oberlin College then studied at Johns Hopkins, leaving without a degree. He taught at Syracuse University, beginning in 1895, but was let go in 1899 due to his radicalism. In 1904, he began his career at the University of Wisconsin. Commons is perhaps best known for his theory on the evolution of the American labor movement and arguing that collective action by government can transform social conditions. Additionally, he helped craft much of the reform legislation in the state of Wisconsin, developing a connection between academia and the public sphere. Such legislation included legal rights for labor unions, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and the regulation of utilities, as well as contributing to the 1935 Social Security Act. He died in 1946, aged 82.

October 14th”: 2021 John Deere strike began

On this day in labor history, the 2021 John Deere strike began. Approximately 10,000 workers for the agricultural machinery manufacturer went on strike during Striketober after contract negotiations broke down. Members of the United Auto Workers went on strike seeking better schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some reportedly working 10- to 12-hour days. Additionally, workers were frustrated by the initial proposal, which they viewed as offering an insufficient wage increase, minimal retirement contributions, and introducing a two-tier system that would provide new hires with fewer benefits. At the time of the negotiations, John Deere had made nearly $6 million in profit. Workers walked out of 14 different plants in 5 states. Many received support from their communities and even the wider public. A new contract was proposed but was rejected in early November. However, an updated contract was accepted, ending the labor action in mid-November. The new contract saw even better pay and a signing bonus. The strike further inflated the price of used John Deere machinery as customers were unable to acquire new equipment.

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