Today in labor history Aug 11 - Andrew Carnegie died, ruthless and crushed unions (Homestead strike)

[Omaha Steve]

August 11

Federal troops drive some 1,200 jobless workers from Washington D.C. Led by unemployed activist Charles "Hobo" Kelley the group's "soldiers" include young journalist Jack London and William Haywood, a young miner-cowboy called "Big Bill" - 1884

August 11, 1911 - Minneapolis Building Trades locals formed a Building Trades Council. It continues today as an organization of unions representing thousands of construction workers in many crafts.

One hundred "platform men" employed by the privately owned United Railroads streetcar service in San Francisco abandon their streetcars, tying up many of the main lines in and out of the city center - 1917

August 11, 1919 - Andrew Carnegie, the wealthiest and most successful late-19th century capitalist, died in New York. He worked his employees ruthlessly and crushed unionizing efforts such as the Homestead strike of 1892. By the beginning of the 20th century, Carnegie mills produced one-quarter of the nation's steel and he pocketed an annual profit of $25 million.

International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union receives CIO charter - 1937

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_08_11_2010

[LargeGreenSpider]

1. Carnegie gave a lot of money back to communities

... few others actually have ever matched his late-in-life philanthropy.