Today In Labor History June 29, 1898: Michael Schwab, who was convicted for the Haymarket bombing, died from tuberculosis, after having been pardoned and released from prison just a few months prior. Schwab, who was born in Germany, was a bookbinder by trade. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1879 and wrote for the labor newspaper, “Arbeiter-Zeitung.” His brother in-law, Rudolph Schnaubelt, is believed by some to be the person who actually threw the Haymarket bomb. Schnaubelt was never tried or convicted of the crime. 8 other anarchists, none of whom were present at the bombing, were convicted of the crime. 4 were hanged. And one committed suicide in prison.

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Today in Labor History June 15, 1914: Westinghouse strike, Pittsburgh. The Allegheny Congenial Industrial Union (ACIU) struck against Westinghouse. They were demanding union recognition and protesting against the "scientific management" theories of Frederick Taylor. They also wanted an eight-hour day, reinstatement of fired workers, and higher overtime and holiday rates. Women played a major role in the strike. Bridget Kenny organized marches and recruited workers to join the ACIU. She had been employed by Westinghouse but fired in 1913 for selling union benefit tickets on company grounds.

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Today in Labor History May 5, 1886: The Bay View Massacre occurred in Milwaukee, one day after the Haymarket bombing, in Chicago. Workers in both cities were demonstrating for the 8-hour work-day. There were approximately 1,400 strikes that year for the 8-hour day. In Milwaukee, the governor called out the state militia. They shot and killed seven protesters, including a 14-year-old boy. No militiamen were ever charged. However, the authorities convicted fifty of the strikers and sentenced them to hard labor for "rioting."

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August Spies, the eight-hour workday, the Haymarket Affair, and International Workers’ Day. #111Words #AugustSpies #MayDay #InternationalWorkersDay #HaymarketAffair #Chicago #EightHourDay https://andrewjshields.blogspot.com/2023/05/august-spies-eight-hour-workday.html

Today in Labor History March 28, 1892: French anarchist, Ravachol, was arrested for blowing up the homes of two government officials. His atentat was in response to the police murders of 9 workers, who had been demonstrating for the eight-hour-day, on May 1, 1891, and for the Clichy Affair, that same day, when anarchists were arrested and tortured by police.

#WorkingClass #LaborHistory #anarchism #atentat #bombing #PoliceBrutality #EightHourDay #acab