Today in labor history May 7 50,000 members before being crushed by employers later that year

[Omaha Steve]

May 07

The Knights of St. Crispin union is formed at a secret meeting in Milwaukee. It grew to 50,000 members before being crushed by employers later that year - 1867

Two die, 20 are injured in “Bloody Tuesday” as strikebreakers attempt to run San Francisco streetcars during a strike by operators. The strike was declared lost in 1908 after many more deaths, including several in scab-operated streetcar accidents - 1907

May 7, 1912 - The Hotel Workers Industrial Union went out on strike at New York City’s finest hotels and restaurants. The Waldorf and Astoria hotels and the Plaza were among the hotels affected.

Philadelphia’s longest transit strike ends after 44 days. A key issue in the fight was the hiring and use of part-timers - 1977

Labor history found here: http://www.biglabor.com/history.php & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_05_07_2009