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Today in Labor History, January 5th
http://www.workdayminnesota.org/history/01/05
January 5, 1914
The Ford Motor Company raised its basic wage from $2.40 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day. The move was made by company founder Henry Ford. While his primary objective was to reduce worker attrition—labor turnover from monotonous assembly line work was high—newspapers from all over the world reported the story as an extraordinary gesture of goodwill. Ford also said a higher wage would enable workers to buy his cars.
January 5, 1970
Joseph "Jock" Yablonski, a reform candidate who had tried to unseat United Mine Workers President Tony Boyle, was murdered, along with his wife and daughter, in their Pennsylvania home by assassins acting on Boyle's orders. Boyle was later convicted of the killing, paving the way for reform of the union.
