Today In Labor History: April 6
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 hour ago
*April 6, 1712* - New York City saw its first slave revolt, which occurred just north of Wall Street, in response to the execution of twenty-one blacks for killing nine whites. Conditions were ideal for a revolt, as black slaves and freemen worked in proximity to each other, making communication and planning easier. In the aftermath of the revolt, 70 black men were jailed, with six “committing suicide” in custody. Twenty of those arrested were executed by burning and one was executed on the “breaking wheel.” New regulations were also put into place, prohibiting black men from meeti... more »
Today In Labor History: April 5
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 day ago
Élisée Reclus (Image from Wikipedia) *April 5, 1871*—Élisée Reclus, was taken prisoner during the Paris Commune. (From the *Daily Bleed*) *April 5, 1954* - Workers struck the Kohler Company in Wisconsin. The walkout was part ongoing labor disputes that lasted 30 years at the company. There had also been strikes from 1934 to 1941 and another, from 1954 to 1960. The latest dispute lasted until December, 1965, with the company agreeing to pay $4.5 million in back wages and pension credits for committing numerous unfair labor practices. (From Work Day Minnesota. For more on the st... more »
Today In Labor History: April 4
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 days ago
Luddite Leader Ned Ludd (engraving, 1812, from Wikipedia) *April 4, 1812* – Luddites rioted at Stockport, England, to tried and halt the advancement of machines that would replace workers. (From *Luddite Chonology* and the *Daily Bleed*) *April 4, 1950* – Longshoremen union leader Harry Bridges was convicted of lying about being a Communist. (From the *Daily Bleed*) ------------------------------ Modern School
Today In Labor History: April 3
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 days ago
*April 3, 1913** -* Pietro Botto, socialist mayor of Haledon, N.J., invited the Paterson silk mill strikers to assemble in front of his house. 20,000 showed up to hear speakers from the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Upton Sinclair, John Reed and others, who urged them to remain strong in their fight. (From Work Day Minnesota) Strike leaders Patrick L. Quinlan, Carlo Tresca, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Adolph Lessig, and Bill Haywood. The Patterson strike lasted from Feb. 1 until July 28, 1913. Workers were fighting for the eight-hour workday and better working conditions. Ove... more »
Today in Labor History-April 2
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 4 days ago
*April 2, 1863*--Bread riots occurred in Richmond, Virginia, as a result of a drought the previous year, combined with a blockade by the Union and overall civil war-related shortages. Food riots occurred throughout the South around this time, led primarily by women. During the Richmond riot, women broken into storehouses and shops, stealing food, clothing and jewelry before the militia was able to restore order. (Source: Wikipedia) *April 2, 1903*--Mexican police fired on more than 10,000 protestors, killing 15 and wounding many more. People had been protesting the reelection of G... more »
Back to the “Golden Age” for Those in Their Golden Years?
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 4 days ago
In his quest to find a “middle ground” (read appease the ruling elite), President Obama has been meeting with Republicans behind closed doors to come up with a plan to dismantle Medicare. According to the New York Times, Obama has proposed cost savings by combining Medicare A and B, which would significantly increase seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses. Currently, Medicare A is used for hospital visits and has a deductible of $1,184 per year, while Medicare B, which is used for out-patient services and doctors’ visits, is only $147. Patients can see their doctors as often as they... more »
Today in Labor History—April 1
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 5 days ago
*April 1, 1649* – Diggers occupied St. George's Hill, near Cobham, Surrey, England, seizing land to hold in common and to plant. Other Digger communities followed in Northants, Bucks, Kent, Herts, Middx, Leics, Beds, Glos & Notts. *April 1, 1882* – Coal Heavers strike against the Suez Canal Company in Port Said. *April 1, 1920* – T-Bone Slim's The Popular Wobbly published in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) "One Big Union Monthly". *April 1, 1924* – West Virginia miners walked out at the Coal River Colliery Company (CRC). The strike was unusual because CRC was an... more »
Today in Labor History—March 31
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 6 days ago
*March 31, 1927*: Birth of Cesar Chavez. *March 31, 1941*: Wisconsin state troopers attack striking auto workers in Milwaukee. The strikers succeed in holding off scabs. *March 31, 1949 – *Last great strike of the Canadian Seaman's Union*.* *March 31, 1966*: Two day boycott of Seattle schools protesting de facto segregation. (Sources: Daily Bleed, and Workaday Minnesota). ------------------------------ Modern School
Today in Labor History—March 30
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 30, 1930*: 30,000 unemployed marched in New York City. At the time, there was virtually no formal or institutional aid available for the unemployed or poor. Even the AFL did not support unemployment insurance, as it saw itself as the representative of skilled workers only, and could care less about the unskilled and factory workers. Another reason for the lack of government support for the unemployed was that working conditions were so terrible the ruling elite feared that workers would choose the dole over work if given the choice. In New York, police attacked the marchers. ... more »
Feds Bust Charters for Corruption
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
In its recent report to congress, the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Inspector General found an unprecedented number of criminal actions by high ranking charter school officials who “used their positions of trust for personal gain and cheated the students they promised to serve,” the 4LAKids Blog reported last week. According to the report, eight charter school bosses were busted for criminal activity, including several who were sentenced to prison for embezzlement. One of the audits found that the DOE itself was asleep at the wheel in terms of monitoring charter school ... more »
Today in Labor History—March 29
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 29, 1973* – [image: Description: anarchist, labor]A wildcat strike and occupation of Fiat plants at Mirafiori began on this date. (From the *Daily Bleed*) ------------------------------ Modern School
Suspend Tests, Not Students
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
California plans to suspend some of its standardized testing for certain grade levels while it develops new computerized exams for the Common Core Standards (CCS). The plan is projected to save the state $15 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. While the temporary suspension of tests will be a welcome respite for the minority of teachers and students affected by the plan, it will do nothing to improve education funding since the implementation of CCS is projected to cost well over $1 billion. Additionally, State Superintendent Tom Torlakson has asked the state Board o... more »
Today In Labor History: March 28
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 28, 1871 –* Paris Commune, over 200,000 people turn out at the City Hall to see their newly elected officials, whose names are read to great & festive acclaim, making this day a revolutionary festival. The red flag, raised over all public buildings, is emblematic of the Commune. *March 28, 1911*: Part of the anarchist Bonnot Gang was caught & killed by cops after months of bank robbing & mayhem. *March 28, 1915*: Emma Goldman was arrested for giving a lecture on contraceptives. Goldman believed that knowledge of and access to contraceptives was key to women’s ability to... more »
Is The Ed Tech Bubble Ready to Burst?
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
For anyone who still believes the Ed Deform movement is entirely motivated by compassionate individuals who just want what’s best for our children, a recent article on the burgeoning Ed Tech Bubble posted on Geekwire.comought to set them straight. The push to get more technology into the classroom started almost immediately with the advent of inexpensive personal computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with high tech magnet schools sprouting up in many districts. I even attended one of these early adopters in middle school and have fond memories of playing the primitive fa... more »
Today In Labor History: March 27
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 27, 1912*: Start of the 8-month Northern railway strike in Canada by the IWW. Wobblies picketed employment offices in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Tacoma and Minneapolis in order to block the hiring of scabs. Fellow workers pay attention to what I'm going to mention, For it is the fixed intention of the Workers of the World. And I hope you'll all be ready, true-hearted, brave and steady, To gather 'round our standard when the red flag is unfurled. CHORUS: Where the Fraser river flows, each fellow worker knows, They have bullied and oppressed us, but still our union gr... more »
The New Network for Public Education
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons A new anti-reform education reform movement is taking shape: The Network for Public Education. Led by Diane Ravitch, Anthony Cody, Leonie Haimson and other lefty ed reformers, the NPE is calling for an end to privatization schemes; increased funding; assessments that are used to inform instruction, not to penalize schools, students and teachers, among other reforms; community control; teacher autonomy; and a host of other reforms.. As far as reformist movements go, the NPE’s initial platform seems like a reasonable start. However, when examine... more »
Today In Labor History: March 26
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 26, 1910*—Congress amended the Immigration Act of 1907 to specifically bar entrance of “paupers, anarchists, criminals and the diseased.” The move was specifically designed to limit entry of Eastern and Southern European immigrants, many of whom were becoming radicalized by the deplorable working and living conditions in late 19th and early 20thcentury America. (For more on the radicalization of Eastern and Southern European immigrants in the U.S., see “THE WHOLE WORLD IS OUR COUNTRY”: IMMIGRATION AND ANARCHISM IN THE UNITED STATES, 1885-1940). *March 26, 1912 *– A mining... more »
Youth Poverty At An All-Time High
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
Empty Pockets (Image by barbaranixon from Flickr) A new report from the Washington DC-based Urban Institute indicates that the overall percentage of wealth of those in their 20s and 30s has been dropping steadily and is now at its lowest level since records have been kept, the WSWS reports. The study, “Lost Generation? Wealth Building Among Young Americans,” found that young people aged 29-37 saw a 21% decline in their accrued wealth over the past few decades, while those who are 74 and older saw their wealth increase by 150%. One explanation is that older Americans are more ... more »
Today in Labor History--March 25
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 25, 1872 –* Toronto printers struck for the 9-hour day — the first major strike in the country. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 25, 1893*: A federal court issued the first injunction against a union under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The case was brought against the Workingman's Amalgamated Council of New Orleans for interfering with commerce. The law was a major victory for bosses. (From Shmoop Labor Timeline) Coxey's Army Embarking for D.C. *March 25, 1894* – Coxey's Army of (Common-Wealth Army) headed for Washington DC, to demand economic reform. Coxey was a wealthy busi... more »
Today in Labor History—March 24
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 1 week ago
*March 24, 1974 -* The Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded on this date in Chicago by 3,000 women trade unionists from 58 labor organizations. The coalition was created to promote equal rights and better wages and working conditions for women workers. Today there are tens of thousands of CLUW members in 75 chapters throughout the United States. (From Workday Minnesota) ------------------------------ Modern School
Today in Labor History—March 23
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
*March 23, 1871* – Communes were proclaimed in Lyon and Marseilles. The Paris Commune began the day before. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 23, 1918* – 101 Wobblies (members of the Industrial Workers of the World, IWW) went on trial in Chicago for opposing World War I. They were tried for violating the Espionage Act. In September, 1917, 165 IWW leaders were arrested for conspiring to subvert the draft, and encourage desertion. Their trial lasted five months, the longest criminal trial in American history up to that time. The jury found them all guilty. The judge sentenced Big Bill... more »
W[h]ither the Labor Movement?
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
I recently came across an interesting blog piece by Stewart Acuff called *The Future of the American Labor Movement**.* One thing I liked about his piece is that he correctly identified several important areas the labor movement has ignored over the years. However, like many on the left, he completely misunderstands the relationship between labor and capital and this leads him to the erroneous belief that the interests of workers can be saved entirely through political action, while ignoring labor’s most effective weapon, the strike. Acuff points out that the 1935 Wagner Act,... more »
Today in Labor History—March 22
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
Mark Twain, 1871 (from Wikipedia) *March 22, 1886* - Mark Twain, who was a lifelong member of the International Typographical Union, gave a speech entitled, “Knights of Labor: The New Dynasty.” In the speech, he commended the Knights’ commitment to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender. “When all the bricklayers, and all the machinists, and all the miners, and blacksmiths, and printers, and stevedores, and housepainters, and brakemen, and engineers . . . and factory hands, and all the shop girls, and all the sewing machine women, and all the telegraph opera... more »
Today in Labor History—March 21
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
*March 21, 1927* –Shanghai workers launched an uprising, leading to the Shanghai Commune. The Commune lasted until April 12, when it was crushed by Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist troops with the help of Soviet arms, advisers and money. *(From the Daily Bleed)*** *March 21, 1965 –* 3,200 people began the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to protest racial violence. Earlier efforts to hold the march had failed when police attacked demonstrators and a while minister was fatally beaten by a group of Selma whites. The five-day walk ended March 26, when 20,000 people joined the... more »
We Don’t Need Celebrity Teachers
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
In a recent posting on Good Education, Jose Vilson lamented how there aren’t any celebrity K-12 teachers who can “speak to the collective conscience of the educational experience,” as if this was somehow a prerequisite for teachers to gain the autonomy, status and respect they deserve. This is a completely absurd notion with some pretty unfortunate implications. Anthony Bourdain, Wolfgang Puck and Jamie Oliver may have increased the number of people wanting to cook good food at home, but they have done nothing to elevate the status or wages of the hash slingers and burger fli... more »
Today in Labor History—March 20
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
*March 20, 1852* -- Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom's Cabin* was published, leading to a wave of support for abolition, as well as the publication of 30 books defending slavery. Stowe’s work was the first novel to sell a million copies. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 20, 1937* – Detroit police evicted strikers from the Newton Packing Company. Three hours later, 150 police attacked sit-down strikers at a tobacco plant. By April 1, there were over 120,000 striking auto workers in Michigan. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 20, 1985* – The Bolivian army crushed a General Strike. ... more »
Today in Labor History—March 18
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
(Image from the Daily Bleed) *March 18, 1871* – The Paris Commune began on this date, beginning as resistance to occupying German troops and the power of the bourgeoisie. The uprising was suppressed two months later. (From the Daily Bleed) (Image from the Daily Bleed) *March 18, 1918* – Mexican anarchist Ricardo Flores Magón was arrested under the Espionage Act, charged with hindering the American war effort, and imprisoned at Leavenworth, where he died under highly suspicious circumstances. The authorities claimed he died of a "heart attack," but Chicano inmates rioted after hi... more »
Today in Labor History—March 19
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
*March 19, 1883 -* A Memorial for Karl Marx was held in New York, led by P. J. McGuire, head of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a founder of the American Federation of Labor. (From Workday Minnesota) *March 19, 1930* – During the Great Depression, 1,100 men standing in a breadline in New York City seized two truckloads of bread and rolls as they were being delivered to a nearby hotel. (From the Daily Bleed) ------------------------------ Modern School
Today in Labor History—December 17
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
Deborah Sampson painting (from Garden of Praise website) *December 17, 1760* - Deborah Sampson was born on this date in Massachusetts. Sampson disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. She fought in several skirmishes with British forces before being wounded and discovered She was subsequently discharged from the army. (From Workday Minnesota) Simon Bolivar, 1800, painted by Jose Gil de Castro, 1825 *December 17, 1830* – Latin American liberationist Simón Bolivar died on this date in Santa Marta, Columbia. (From the Dai... more »
Weingarten Takes a Dive for Capitalism
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 2 weeks ago
Last week, Valarie Strauss (Answer Sheet) interviewed American Federation of Teachers (AFT) boss Randi Weingarten about why she went to Philadelphia and got arrested. Weingarten correctly noted that the people of Philadelphia, who had asked for a one-year moratorium on school closures, have been repeatedly ignored by the mayor. She also correctly pointed out that the push to close the schools is largely the initiative of the mayor, the city’s School Reform Commission (SRC) and an outside consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG). “When the powers that be ignore you, and dis... more »
Today in Labor History—March 16
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
*March 16, 1811 -- *Luddites attacked machines throughout the northwest of England, destroying over 100 frames in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Kirby, Woodborough, Lambley, Bulwell, & Ilkeston in Derbyshire. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 16, 1921 - *Bolsheviks, under orders from Trotsky, launch their final assault on the sailors of Kronstadt, slaughtering the rebels and earning Trotsky the moniker, "The Red Butcher.) (From the Daily Bleed) *March 16, 1968* - More than 350 Vietnamese villagers were slughtered by U.S. troops in the My Lai Massacre in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. (From Workday... more »
Today in Labor History—March 15
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
*March 15, 1877* -- Ben Fletcher, African-American IWW organizer was born on this date. Fletcher organized longshoremen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 15, 1887* - The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades was founded on this date. Today they represent more than 140,000 members in the construction industry, such as Painters, Drywall Finishers, Glaziers, Floor Coverers, and Sign and Display workers. (From Workday Minnesota) *March 15, 1917 *- The U.S. Supreme Court approved the 8-hour workday under the threat of a rail strike. (From t... more »
Today in Labor History—March 14
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
Marx's Tomb, Highgate Cemetary, London (Image by JohnArmagh) *March 14, 1883* – Karl Marx died on this date in England, age 64. (From the Daily Bleed)** *March 14, 1912* - Textile manufacturers surrendered and gave in to most of the demands made by Lawrence, Massachusetts textile workers. The IWW-organized strike involved 32,000 mostly immigrant women and children and lasted 10 weeks As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men, For they are women's children, & we mother them again. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bod... more »
Why Weingarten Got Arrested
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
This week, Valarie Strauss (Answer Sheet) interviewed American Federation of Teachers boss Randi Weingarten about why she went to Philadelphia and got arrested. Weingarten correctly noted that the people of Philadelphia, who had asked for a one-year moratorium on school closures, have been repeatedly ignored by the mayor. She also correctly pointed out that the push to close the schools is largely the initiative of the mayor, governor, the city’s School Reform Commission (SRC) and an outside consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG). “When the powers that be ignore you, and ... more »
Today in Labor History—March 13
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
(From wikipedia) *March 13, **1925* – Tennessee made it unlawful to teach evolution. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 13, 1946* - The United Auto Workers and General Motors signed a new contract after a four-month strike over wages. (From Workday Minnesota) *March 13, 1961* – IWW Labor organizer and recovering anarchist Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was elected chair of the National Committee of the Communist Party, U.S.A. (From the Daily Bleed) *March 13, **1963* – Labor Local 260 Houston negotiated its first contract with Pioneer Bus, ending dual pay scales for black and white driv... more »
Is Bill Gates Data Mining Your Children?
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
Blooming Automatons? (Image from Flickr, by edenpictures) Want your child to flower academically? That’s what inBloom Inc. says it will do by accessing your child’s social security number, test scores, hobbies, learning disabilities, attendance records, career goals, homework completion records, and other personal data, in order to develop “personalized” learning aids that it will sell back to you or your school district. *Private Education Companies are School Officials According to Fed* inBloom’s new $100 million database has been in operation for three months, the Business... more »
Today in Labor History--March 12
Michael Dunn at Modern School - 3 weeks ago
Striking textile workers face off against MA militiamen during Lawrence Strike *March 12, 1912 *- The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) won their textile strike in Lawrence, MA.The Lawrence strike was also known as the Bread and Roses Strike because the women were demanding not only a living wage, so they could feed their families, but a better quality of life, too). This IWW-led strike was the first known strike to implement the moving picket line, so as to avoid arrests for loitering. The strike was also unique in that the workers spoke 22 different languages and came from 2... more »
