Italian activists and anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti,
widely believed to have been framed for murder, go on trial today. They
eventually are executed as part of a government campaign against dissidents
? 1921
The Railway Labor Act took effect today. It was the first federal
legislation protecting workers? rights to form unions - 1926
9,000 rubber workers strike in Akron, Ohio - 1933
Explosion in Coal Creek, Tenn. kills 184 miners - 1902
Shootout in Matewan, W. Va. between striking union miners (led by Police
Chief Sid Hatfield) and coal company agents. Ten died, including seven
agents - 1920
In what may have been baseball?s first labor strike, the Detroit Tigers
refuse to play after team leader Ty Cobb is suspended: he went into the
stands and beat a fan who had been heckling him. Cobb was reinstated and the
Tigers went back to work after the team manager?s failed attempt to replace
the players with a local college team: their pitcher gave up 24 runs - 1912