Today in labor history Jan 26 first workers’ compensation agreement in America by pirate William Kid

January 26

In what could be considered the first workers’ compensation agreement in America, pirate William Kidd pledges his underlings 600 pieces of eight or six slaves to compensate for a lost arm or leg - 1695

January 26, 1897 - The Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America was born when it received a charter from the American Federation of Labor to organize "every wage earner from the man who takes the bullock at the house until it goes into the hands of the consumer." The Meat Cutters merged with the Retail Clerks International Union in 1979 to form the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Two day sitdown strike in Brooklyn power plant leads to major organizing in New York subways - 1937