Today in Labor History May 19 Explosion kills 184 miners, “Matewan Battle” 10 dead, mine kills 195..

[Omaha Steve]

May 19

Explosion in Coal Creek, Tenn. kills 184 miners - 1902

Shootout in Matewan, W. Va. between striking union miners (led by Police Chief Sid Hatfield) and coal company agents. Ten died, including seven agents - 1920

And this:
May 19, 1920 - Ten people were killed when coal company officials in Matewan, West Virginia, tried to remove striking union workers from coal company housing. The episode, which became known as the “Matewan Battle” is depicted in John Sayles’ film Matewan.

For more information on the Matewan battle
Go to http://matewanwv.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=49 and http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/knowlandl.html

Gas explosion in a Mather, Pennsylvania, coal mine kills 195 - 1928

The Steel Workers Organizing Committee, formed by the Congress of Industrial Organizations, formally becomes the United Steelworkers of America - 1942

31 dockworkers are killed, 350 workers and others are injured when four barges carrying 467 tons of ammunition blow up at South Amboy, New Jersey. They were loading mines that had been deemed unsafe by the Army and were being shipped to the Asian market for sale - 1950

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_05_19_2011

[iemitsu]

1. the battle for workers to be treated fairly

is not new and not over.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Welcome to the Labor Forum

We need all the regulars we can get.

OS

[iemitsu]

4. thanks for the welcome.

i see on these threads that your union is being assaulted.
:(
i have been reading these threads silently for years (since du was new)but have recently found a voice.

[w8liftinglady]

3. My partner and I just got "Matewan" to watch

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509/