Shortly before noon on Saturday, February 10, 1979, Rufino Contreras and a half-dozen other United Farm Workers walked onto a lettuce field owned by Mario Saikhon. They were into the 22nd day of a bitter strike against Saikhon and had hoped to convince the scab workers to honor their line. But as they approached the […]

For every labor union that exists, there is an individual who symbolizes the essence of the organization and the Labor Movement. These individuals, through their actions or personalities, have acted as lighthouses, giving members direction while illuminating the great cause of Labor. The Teamsters have Jimmy Hoffa, the Longshoremen Harry Bridges, and the UFCW Addie […]

On Nov. 19, 1915, Joe Hill sat facing a five-man firing squad on the grounds inside Utah State Prison. He seemed to be enjoying the last few minutes of his life despite being strapped to a chair, blind-folded with a paper target covering his heart. As the squad prepared to pull their triggers, Hill was […]

Submarine sandwiches have become a staple of American lunches. Depending on the region, these sandwiches may be called by various names: Grinder, Hero, Hoagie, Torpedo or simply Sub. All have their own subtle qualities and history, but one variation of the Sub should spark an interest to every friend of labor – the Po-boy. Born […]

For 10 days in 1921, nearly 15,000 union miners clashed against company-paid deputies and state police in the mining hills of West Virginia. This incident, known as the Battle of Blair Mountain, was not only the largest labor uprising but also the largest armed insurrection on U.S. soil since the Civil War. The battle would […]