The Paterson Silk Strike

May 1, 2013 8:51 PM

For May Day: The Story of the Paterson Silk Strike Pageant of 1913.
posted by homunculus (8 comments total)

Sources.
posted by homunculus at 8:54 PM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]

And on the subject of May Day: Workers Around the Globe March for May Day
posted by homunculus at 11:05 PM on May 1, 2013

By 1870, nearly fifty percent of the silk made in the United States was produced in Paterson. In the early part of the twentieth century, the silk mills of Paterson fell victim to labor strife and never recovered.

The right of businesses to go out of business is something that unions in America never figured out how to get around.
posted by three blind mice at 1:06 AM on May 2, 2013

The right of businesses to go out of business is something that unions in America never figured out how to get around.

The willingness of management to damage their businesses, the local economy, and the nation out of greed and spite is something that our legal system has never figured out how to get around. Because the management has sure figured how to get around the law!
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:51 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]

In a more positive light, I wish to once more lift my glass to the brave union men and women who fought (and died) to win the concessions that we treat as some sort of inalienable birthright, even as they are being stripped away.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:47 AM on May 2, 2013

Here's a video of Ralph Golzio, who was the last surviving witness to the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike when this video was made last year.

Golzio died in January 2013: Ralph Golzio, last living witness to historic Paterson silk strike, dies at 103
posted by homunculus at 12:28 PM on May 2, 2013

And now the Rude Pundit has returned to his regular rudeness: Recent Polls Demonstrate Why We Are So Fucked
posted by homunculus at 12:35 PM on May 2, 2013

Up the wobs. Solidarity forever.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 9:25 AM on May 4, 2013 [1 favorite]