Today in Labor History Dec 31 UMW reformer Joe Yablonski, his wife and daughter are murdered

December 31


December 31, 1890 - Ellis Island opened for operation in New York City, a portal for millions of immigrants to the United States. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Foundation maintain a free database on the many who entered through the port. It can be accessed at http://www.ellisisland.org/

60,000 unemployed workers rally at a Pittsburgh stadium - 1931

United Mine Workers reformer Joseph "Jock" Yablonski, his wife and daughter are murdered by hitmen hired by union president Tony Boyle, who was to be convicted of the crime and eventually die in prison - 1969

OSHA adopts a grain handling facilities standard to protect 155,000 workers at nearly 24,000 grain elevators from the risk of fire and explosion from highly combustible grain dust - 1987

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_12_31_2009

about the labor movement. Reading about that, about Jimmy Hoffa, and reading "The Godfather" colored my perspective on it for years, which I eventually reassessed in the late 70s, just in time for the republican destruction of the labor movement under Reagan. It was only then that I heard about things like the Matewan massacre, learned who Joe Hill was and realized that I'd been fed anti-union propaganda for years.