Today in labor history March 4

[Omaha Steve]

4 March

March 4, 1801 - In his inaugural address, President Thomas Jefferson asserted, "Take not from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned."

March 4, 1865 - Union Stockyards opened, leading to the establishment of Chicago as the world's greatest meat producing and packing center by the end of the decade. With the stockyards came thousands more workers, who organized into unions like the United Packinghouse Workers of America, to raise wages and improve conditions in the dirty, dangerous industry.

March 4, 1989 - The International Association of Machinists went on strike against Eastern Airlines. Some 8,500 ramp service workers, mechanics, aircraft cleaners and stock clerks were joined by 6,000 flight attendants and 3,400 pilots on picketlines in the nationwide strike. Owner Frank Lorenzo refused to consider the unions' demands; Eastern ultimately went out of business.