March 26th

On this day in labor history the Salad Bowl strike ended in 1971 in California. Organized by the United Farm Workers, the strike began on August 23, 1970 in the lettuce-producing region of Salinas Valley against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters over organizing jurisdiction of farm workers. Coming off the success of the Delano grape strike, the UFW saw an opportunity to gain greater union recognition by growers. The Teamsters had the same idea, leading to a strike of drivers and packers that would produce a contract that gave them the power to organize farm workers, not the UFW. Adding insult to injury, the Teamsters agreed to a contract with growers without consulting the farm workers. A backdoor agreement was initially reached between the Teamsters and the UFW but talks broke down, resulting in the largest farm laborer strike in the nation’s history. Violence riddled the fields and UFW leader Cesar Chavez was jailed for a short time. The strike ended when an agreement reasserting UFW’s claim to organize was made; however, this did not end jurisdictional quarrels.

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March 25

On this day in labor history the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory caught fire in 1911. Located in lower Manhattan, the sweatshop occupied three floors of the Asch Building. The garment workers, most of whom were young, immigrant women, were trapped inside as the exits were locked. This was customary at the time, ensuring that none of the workers took unauthorized breaks or stole while also keeping union organizers out. Because the exits were sealed and the fire escape broken, many jumped from the building. 146 garment workers died in the tragedy. The owners of the company, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, were charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter, but were acquitted. They would later be found guilty of wrongful death and required to compensate the families of the victims, reaping the benefits from an insurance company payout. Feminist and labor activist Rose Schneiderman led a memorial for the dead, using the catastrophe to encourage unionization. The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union became more concerned with electoral politics, working with Tammany Hall to enact more comprehensive safety standards and workers’ compensation.

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March 24th On this day in labor history ground broke on the New York City Subway system in 1900. Dubbed “Tunnel Day”, the event saw a public celebration, with Mayor Robert Van Wyck breaking first ground with a silver spade. The subways were built by compressed-air workers, so named after the water-tight chambers that allowed them to work underwater. While not technically unionized at the time of construction, there was a strong sense of comradery due to the harrowing work environment. Nicknamed sandhogs, these workers had a distinct identity amongst other, more anonymous laborers of the city. After workers endured multiple disasters in 1906, there was a push for unionization, which was ultimately achieved after 500 laborers struck over wages. Aided by the American Federation of Labor, the workers created the United Tunnel Workers which would eventually become Laborers' Local Union No. 147. This union continues to advocate for compressed-air workers to this day. For more sources check the comments below. Video link in profile!

March 23

On this day in labor history the Norris-LaGuardia Act was enacted in 1932. The legislation banned yellow-dog contracts and restricted federal courts’ powers to issue injunctions against nonviolent labor actions, creating a more balanced relationship between the judiciary and labor organizations. Yellow-dog contracts required employees to sign an agreement agreeing that they would not join a union. Yellow-dog contracts came into popularity after the passage of the Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 which exempted unions from antitrust laws. These laws had been used regularly against organized labor, even more so than companies. In 1932, the country was stricken by the depression, leading to a surge in union membership and strong action to combat its effects, even before the New Deal. Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska and Representative Fiorello La Guardia of New York, both progressive Republicans, sponsored the legislation. Being one of the first federal laws supporting labor, the act helped pave the way for future reform, most notably the Wagner Act of 1935.

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