On this day in labor history, the year was 1869.
That was the day black workers met in Washington D.C. to found the Colored National Labor Union.
214 black trades people hoped to work towards equal representation in the workforce.
They also demanded antidiscrimination legislation, federally funded education and fulfillment of the promise of forty acres and a mule for Southern farmers.
34-year old black caulker, Isaac Myers, was elected president.
He had organized black caulkers in the Chesapeake shipyards.
Myers hoped to lead black workers into the National Labor Union, an early effort and building a national labor movement.
NLU founder William Sylvis insisted there should be no “distinction of race or nationality” among the ranks.
Myers added that white and black workers must come together in solidarity and organize for higher wages and living standards.
Many members of the NLU were not so progressive when it came to integrated unions.
Some of these organizations had whites-only clauses in their by-laws.
Others feared competition from black workers and voted not to extend membership. Myers understood the need to organize black workers.
While the NLU did not live up to its stated ideal of inclusion,
Myer’s effort welcomed all workers regardless of race, gender or occupation and represented workers across 21 states.
They were soon confronted with the full weight of resistance and hostile bosses, media and the government brought down upon them when they tried to push for reforms of any kind.
Though the CNLU soon fell into decline, black workers carried on its ideals of interracial solidarity, during the Great Strikes of 1877.
So did the new Knights of Labor who insisted, “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
April 8 - John L. Lewis Takes on Henry Ford
April 7 - Flora Tristan is Born
April 6 - Rose Schneiderman is Born
April 5 - Massey Mine Explodes, pt. 2
April 4 - Massey Mine Explodes, pt. 1
April 3 - Lincoln Freed the Slaves, Ford Brought Them Back
April 2 - Trouble in the Sweetest Place on Earth
April 1 - The Promise of 1946
March 31 - Hospital Workers Stand United
March 30 - 15th Amendment Adopted
March 29 - West Coast Hotel v Parrish Decided
March 28 - Partial Meltdown at Three Mile Island
March 27 - FE Strikers Battle Police at Harvester
March 26 - Police Attack UE Amid ‘46 Strike Wave
March 25 - Centralia Coal Mine #5 Explodes
March 24 - Exxon Valdez Runs Aground
March 23 - Texas City Refinery Explosion Kills 15
March 22 - ERA Passes the Senate
March 21 - Truman Signs Loyalty Order
March 20 - Another Deadly Explosion
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