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To see another month, clink on the appropriate link. The external links provided in these pages are for those interested in reading more on the various people and topics. These sites are not affiliated in any way with CWA Local 4319. All pictures used in the Labor Calendar, unless otherwise indicated, are courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
November 5Labor leader and socialist Eugene V. Debs was born in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1855. "The strike is a weapon of the oppressed, of men capable of appreciating justice and having the courage to resist wrong and contend for principle," he said. November 9The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was formed in 1935 to expand industrial unionism. It merged with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO. November 11Veterans Day. World War I ended on this day in 1918. Click Here for another interesting site about Veterans Day. November 19In 1903, the Women's Trade Union League was formed to educate women about the advantages of union membership, to support women's demands for better working conditiond, and to raise awareness about the exloitation of women workers. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) labor organizer and balladeer Joe Hill was executed by a Salt Lake City, Utah firing squad in 1915. Hill was arrested and condemned to death for a murder, though supporters claim no clear evidence existed to convict him. The IWW and others rushed to defend Hill, believing he was unfairly prosecuted because of his labor background. Hill died a martyr and has been celebrated in song and legend ever since. On the eve of his death, Hill wrote, "Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize." His words remain a rallying cry to this day. November 29Birthday, in 1829, of author, abolitionist, and nurse Louisa May Alcott. Known for her fictional work Little Women, Alcott also wrote Work, an autobiographical novel exposing the exploitation of women workers and the evils of industrialization in 1873. November 30"Fighting Mary" Eliza McDowell, also known as the "Angel of the Stockyards", was born in 1854. Her father was active in the anti-slavery movement and the family moved to Chicago after the Civil War. As a young woman McDowell joined the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and was active in the struggle for women's suffrage. A social worker, McDowell helped organize the first women's local union of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters in 1902. Comprised predominantly of low-paid women working in packinghouse canning and labeling operations, membership grew to more than 1,000.
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