Today in Labor History May 12

Today in Labor History May 12, 1593: The authorities arrested and tortured London playwright Thomas Kyd for lewd and mutinous libels. Kyd was one of the most important writers in the development of Elizabethan theatre. Ben Jonson considered him the equal of Christopher Marlowe. He wrote The Spanish Tragedy, one of the greatest plays of the Shakespearean era. He also may have written a version of Hamlet that predates Shakespeare’s version.

1800s

Today in Labor History May 12, 1856: Trade unions in Victoria, Australia, demonstrated for the 8-hour day. On April 21, Victorian stonemasons quit work and staged a protest for the eight-hour day in Melbourne. They carried banners with three figure 8’s to represent “8 Hours Work, 8 Hours Recreation, 8 Hours Rest.” Robert Owen, an English Socialist, coined this slogan in 1817. As a result of their strike, employers signed an agreement that the stonemasons’ workday would henceforth be eight hours. And this led to the demonstration on May 12 to win the eight-hour day for other workers, too.

1910s

May 12, 1916: The authorities executed James Connolly on this date for his role in the Easter Rising. He was a founding member of the IWW in the United States, as wells as an Irish freedom fighter.

Today in Labor History May 12, 1917: IWW Construction workers at three separate camps in La Crosse, Washington, went on strike. Also on this date, IWW workers won their strike at Shuh and Michele in Paterson, NJ.

1920s

May 12, 1926: The Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld the death sentences of Sacco & Vanzetti, denying their motion for a new trial.

Today in Labor History May 12, 1927: Nicaraguan guerrillas, under the leadership of Augusto Sandino, continued their fight against the U.S. Marines who were occupying their country. One of their manifestos read, “it is better to be killed as a rebel than to live on as a slave.” The U.S. didn’t withdraw its troops until 1933, when Juan Sacasa took over as president. Sacasa named Anastasio Somoza head of the hated Guardia Nacional. Sacasa met privately with Sandino and won his support. However, Sandino continued to call for the dismantling of the Guardia Nacional. And then Somoza assassinated him in 1934. After that, the Somoza dynasty ruled Nicaragua until the FSLN (Sandinista Nation Liberation Front) overthrew them in 1979.

1950s

May 12, 1950: A court ordered Communist Party head Eugene Dennis to serve a year in jail for refusing to testify before House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).

2000s

Today in Labor History May 12, 2008: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the Agriprocessors slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa. They arrested nearly 400 immigrant workers and convicted 300 of them on document fraud charges. It was the largest ever immigration raid until that date. The courts convicted several employees and low-level managers. However, the owner was not punished. Although, he later did time for bank fraud.