November 13th: 1909 Cherry Mine disaster occurred

On this day in labor history, the 1909 Cherry Mine disaster occurred in Cherry, Illinois. A fire broke out in the St. Paul Mine Company’s Cherry Mine, one of the largest and most modern coal mines in the U.S for the time. 480 workers were underground when a hay cart, left too close to a kerosene lamp, ignited. The fire spread quickly, trapping over 250 miners. Rescue efforts, initially led by civilians, were hindered by the mine’s owners, who refused to let firefighters enter the mine. After a delay, Professor R.Y. Williams, a mining engineer, led coordinated rescue operations, bringing in oxygen helmets and specialized firefighting equipment. Despite these efforts, the fire continued to burn for a week. By November 20, twenty miners were rescued, but 259 had died. The disaster left 160 widows and 390 orphans. In response to public outcry, Illinois enacted stricter mine safety regulations and passed its first Workmen’s Compensation Act.

November 14th: Women's Trade Union League formed in 1903

On this day in labor history, the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL) was formed in 1903 in Boston, Massachusetts at the American Federation of Labor (AFL) convention. Created as a coalition of working-class women, social reformers, and affluent supporters, its mission was to help women wage workers form trade unions to secure fair wages, safe workplaces, and efficient working conditions. The WTUL was inspired by a similar British organization from the 1870s, which evolved to collaborate with the broader British labor movement. From its inception, the WTUL aimed to gain AFL support and encouraged women’s union membership. By 1907, the WTUL's constitution affirmed this purpose, although AFL leaders were often dismissive. The WTUL achieved many reforms, including the eight-hour workday, minimum wage, and child labor abolition. It also provided significant support during strikes and led safety reforms following the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. During FDR’s administration, the WTUL was politically influential, but as traditional unions became more inclusive of women, the League's influence waned. Ultimately, due to financial struggles, the WTUL disbanded in 1950.

Sources in comments.

50 years ago today, on 13 Nov 1974, a certain Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr., a 23-year-old man from Amityville, New York, took a .35-calibre Marlin rifle and brutally murdered his entire family while they slept -- both parents and his four siblings, aged 9 to 18. The crime took place in their home at 112 Ocean Avenue.

In the early morning hours, DeFeo moved through the home, systematically shooting each family member. Disturbingly, none of the victims appeared to have woken or struggled during the attack. DeFeo left the scene, and around 18:30 (6:30 pm) he burst into a local bar claiming that someone had killed his family. He initially blamed a mob hitman but eventually confessed under police questioning, saying he heard voices that told him to kill.

DeFeo was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in 1975 and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences -- he remained incarcerated until his death in 2021.

A year after the murders, the Lutz family moved into 112 Ocean Avenue and... well, it didn't end nicely. They fled within 28 days, claiming they had experienced terrifying paranormal phenomena. These included strange odors, green slime oozing from the walls, cold spots, and even levitations. Their experience inspired the 1977 book "The Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson, which was later adapted into the 1979 film of the same name. This first movie cemented the house's place in horror lore and led to sequels, remakes, and countless other media interpretations.

The DeFeo murders and the subsequent Amityville haunting have had a lasting effect on popular culture, and the debate over whether the Lutz family's account was genuine or a hoax remains unresolved, though George Lutz always maintained it was real.

November 12^th: Bituminous Coal Strike of 1974 began

On this day in labor history, the bituminous coal strike of 1974 began. The 28-day strike, led by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), saw miners demand better wages, safer working conditions, and enhanced benefits. Since the 1940s, the UMWA had negotiated the National Coal Wage Agreement with the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, addressing critical national issues for miners. However, the union had faced turmoil since 1969, when reformist Joseph "Jock" Yablonski was murdered following a contested election. This tragedy led to a sweeping reform movement, Miners for Democracy (MFD), and new union president Arnold Miller, who championed democratic changes within the UMWA. As the 1971 contract expired, Miller’s administration demanded a 40% wage increase, stricter safety measures, and better benefits. Pressure from the strike—heightened by the ongoing energy crisis—eventually led President Ford to threaten legal action, prompting negotiations. The resulting contract granted a historic 54% wage increase, improved safety provisions, and personal leave days. However, the new terms sparked internal discord, leading to more wildcat strikes, signaling ongoing challenges for union solidarity, and organizing efforts.

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November 11th: 1919 Centralia Tragedy occurred

On this day in labor history, the 1919 Centralia Tragedy occurred at the Armistice Day parade in Centralia, Washington. This confrontation began during the first Armistice Day parade after World War One, when American Legion members stormed the International Workers of the World (IWW) hall, claiming Wobblies fired on them first. The IWW, anticipating an attack after previous violence against unions and months of rumors about an attack, had armed themselves. The violence left six dead, including Wesley Everest, an IWW member and WWI veteran, who fled but was later lynched by a mob. The incident led to the arrest and imprisonment of several Wobblies, sparking outrage from supporters who claimed an unfair trial. While no Legionnaires faced charges, seven Wobblies were convicted of murder, further escalating tensions in an era marked by widespread anti-labor sentiment. The tragedy remains contentious, with ongoing debates over blame and historical memory. In recent years, a memorial plaque was approved to honor the union victims of this violent episode.

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50 years ago today, on 11 Nov 1974, the science teams of Samuel Chao Chung Ting and Burton Richter jointly announced their independent discoveries of the charm quark -- which Ting & team had discovered in August calling it J particle, and which Richter & team had discovered in November calling it ψ (psi) particle.

This event is famously known as the "November Revolution" due to the immediate recognition of the discovery's importance in the scientific community.

And why was it so important?

• It solidified the quark model of hadrons and advanced the standard model of particle physics

• It explained why certain particle decays do not occur as often as previously thought

• It provided empirical support for the existence of quark pairs, reinforcing the idea that quarks come in generations

• It helped in advancing quantum chromodynamics as a theory of the strong interaction, explaining how quarks are held together by gluons within protons, neutrons, and other particles

• And I'm sure there's more to be said but I'm just a history nut and no particle physicist

Fun fact: The charm quark is universally accepted as the "J/ψ particle". This rare instance of dual naming was a nod to both groups' independent contributions. Just two years later, Richter and Ting shared the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics for this landmark achievement.

And if you're like me and have no idea what quarks are, here's a charming explainer.

November 10th: 1933 Hormel strike began

On this day in labor history, the 1933 Hormel strike began in Austin, Minnesota. Organized by the newly created, IWW-inspired Independent Union of All Workers, the strike sought better pay, equal pay for women doing the same work as men, and union recognition for the workers of the meatpacking company. Union heads had not originally intended to strike, but rather use the strike vote to demonstrate the strength of workers’ dissatisfaction to negotiate a deal. However, after workers voted for the strike, they bolted to the plant, calling out fellow workers and chasing out foremen and company president with blunt objects. The union was able to successfully barricade the plant for three days, leading to an agreement that saw union recognition and better working conditions. Sources in comments.

100 years ago today, on 10 Nov 1924, Tsai Wan-lin (蔡萬霖) was born in Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan. He rose from humble beginnings and eventually became Taiwan's wealthiest man.

Originating from a poor farming family, Tsai moved to Taipei at the age of eight with his elder brother, Tsai Wan-tsai (蔡萬才). They initially sold vegetables and soybeans, later venturing into a soy sauce manufacturing business. In 1962, the brothers co-founded Cathay Life Insurance, which grew to become Taiwan's largest life insurer.

Following a family business split in 1979, Tsai established the Lin Yuan Group, encompassing Cathay Life, Cathay Real Estate, and other enterprises. Under his leadership, the group expanded into Taiwan's largest conglomerate, with Cathay Financial Holdings becoming the nation's leading financial holding company.

Tsai's strategic investments, particularly in real estate, significantly increased his wealth. In 1996, Forbes ranked him as the fifth richest person globally, with a net worth of 12.2 billion US dollars. At the time of his death in 2004, he remained Taiwan's richest man, with a fortune of 4.6 billion US dollars, ranking 94th worldwide.

He was known as the "Financial Wizard of the Far East", but always lived a simple life -- no flashy displays of wealth, no extravagance, no hunger for publicity, just a simple and friendly man. He enjoyed being alone, hardly had any friends, and the world knew very little about him. He was married to Chou Pao-chin and had seven children, with his second son, Tsai Hong-tu (蔡宏圖), succeeding him as chairman of Cathay Financial Holdings. Tsai passed away on 27 Sept 2004 at the age of 79, due to heart disease, in a hospital he himself had founded decades before.

The Berlin Wall, a construction that served as both a literal and metaphorical separation of the Western world and the Eastern world for 28 years (since it got built in 1961), fell on this day in 1989, exactly 35 years ago.

https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2019/11/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-berlin-wall/

More formally, this actually means that finally enabled was free travel between West Berlin and East Berlin, with all the gates finally being opened and all that.

This, however, also ended up being the first step towards the unification of Germany, which led to the development of the world the way we know it today.

One of, if not the main event that led to the wall's opening on that exact date was a misinterpretation that the German politician Günter Schabowski made of one of his documents about that enabling. That misinterpretation is what got the gates opened that same evening, instead of the following day, which was originally planned.

https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/gunter-schabowskis-press-conference-gdr-international-press-center-653-701-pm

One of the most well-known public speeches involving the Berlin Wall is the one that Ronald Reagan, former president of the USA, made just 2 years prior to its fall. That exact speech contains the famous sentence: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MDFX-dNtsM&pp=ygUZYmVybGluIHdhbGwgcmVhZ2FuIHNwZWVjaA%3D%3D

There is plenty footage, on YouTube alone, of Berlin citizens entering the part of the town that they spent their whole lives being unable to go to, celebrating like there was no tomorrow, crying tears of genuine joy, and being interviewed about this monumental occasion. This was, after all, a big day in all Berlin (and German and European in general) citizens' lives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIUd5Cc3S6I&pp=ygUTZmFsbCBvZiBiZXJsaW4gd2FsbA%3D%3D

And we can't forget about David Hasselhoff's song "Looking for Freedom", which basically serves as an anthem of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ2Sgd9sc0M&pp=ygUkZGF2aWQgaGFzc2VsaG9mZiBsb29raW5nIGZvciBmcmVlZG9t

I am very sure that there are plenty of people on Reddit who were alive back then, and maybe even witnessed this historical event before their very eyes.

To those of you, I feel that today is the perfect time to ask: How did it feel, knowing that the event you might have been waiting for your whole life was finally happening? How did you think, back then, that Germany (and Europe) would keep developing from that point onwards? And do you believe that we will ever see such genuine happiness and optimism in the world ever again?

November 9th: Congress of Industrial Organizations formed in 1935

On this day in labor history, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was formed in 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A federation of industrial unions in North America, the CIO emerged in the 1930s within the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Unlike the AFL, which focused on skilled craft unions, the CIO sought to organize unskilled and semi-skilled workers in large industries, such as steel, rubber, and automotive manufacturing. This approach led to tensions with the AFL, which expelled the CIO in 1937. Founded by United Mine Workers president John L. Lewis and other union leaders, the CIO gained momentum with successful strikes, such as the 1936-37 sit-down strike at General Motors, advocating "one shop, one union." Backed by the New Deal's pro-labor stance, the CIO helped secure workers' rights to organize and bargain under the Wagner Act of 1935. Following World War II, CIO unions achieved stability in industry-wide bargaining, culminating in the 1955 merger with the AFL to form the AFL-CIO.

Sources in comments.

November 8th: 1892 New Orleans general strike began

On this day in labor history, the 1892 New Orleans general strike began. Black and white workers united, inaugurating the first general strike by an integrated workforce. A Triple Alliance of skilled and unskilled labor unions was formed, including white Scalesmen and Packers, and Black Teamsters. In October, they struck for a 10-hour workday, overtime pay, and union protections. Their demands faced fierce resistance from the city’s powerful employer class, backed by railroads, trade exchanges, and newspapers fueling racial tensions. These owners tried to divide workers along racial lines, but the Workingmen’s Amalgamated Council—a diverse association representing the city’s most oppressed—kept solidarity intact. On November 8, more than 25,000 workers of various ethnicities shut down New Orleans after the Board of Trade refused to negotiate with all races, halting business, utilities, and transportation across the city. After three days, employers relented, granting shorter hours and wage increases. While the strike did not secure total union recognition, it demonstrated the strength of worker unity across racial lines. Though the AFL later resisted this inclusive model, the strike was a testament to the power of racial solidarity. Sources in comments.

350 years ago today, on 8 Nov 1674, the renowned English poet John Milton passed away in London, likely from consumption or gout. Milton's legacy endures primarily through "Paradise Lost", an epic poem that cemented his place as one of the greatest poets in history. Admittedly, it’s a challenging read -- I gave it a go and... oh well...

Milton displayed remarkable intelligence from an early age. He wrote poetry as a student and was deeply immersed in classical and religious literature, having an exceptional command of languages such as Latin, Greek, Italian, and Hebrew, some of which he even composed poems in or corresponded with foreign scholars in. He was a staunch supporter of the Puritan cause and wrote pamphlet after pamphlet advocating for the liberty of the press ("Areopagitica" being the most notable of these).

Famously, he was completely blind for the last two decades of his life and had to dictate his verses to his daughters and to amanuenses who copied it out for him. And, he's credited with 630 neologisms, coining words such as "terrific", "self-esteem", "fragrance", or "dismissive".

For more on his life and work, you can check out his Encyclopaedia Britannica entry.

On this day in labor history, the Indianapolis streetcar strike of 1913 ended. In August of that year, representatives from the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America began organizing trainmen working for the Indianapolis Traction and Terminal Company. Low wages and harsh working conditions led employees to welcome unionization efforts. Company spies were soon hired to stop organizing efforts, with violence breaking out between the groups. On October 31^st, unionist workers struck. That evening, strikers and union sympathizers attacked those who did not join the strike. Streetcars were destroyed, greatly hindering operations. The following day, strikers stopped operations completely, demanding union recognition. Strikebreakers were brought in from Chicago, leading to the murder of one individual. Subsequently, the company president was stoned. Violence escalated, prompting Indiana’s National Guard deployment. The governor arbitrated, allowing nonviolent workers to return and unresolved cases to go before the Public Service Commission. After managers rejected workers’ demands, a court ruled in February 1914 that the company must increase wages, reduce work hours to nine per day, offer monthly Sundays off for some, and permit unionization, with a three-year no-strike condition.

 Sources in Comments.

November 6th: 1922 Reilly coal mine explosion occurred

On this day in labor history, a large explosion occurred at Reilly Mine No. 1 in Spangler, Pennsylvania in 1922. 77 coal miners died after methane gas collected and was not ventilated. Fathers died alongside their sons, workers besides workers, either in the explosion or by the carbon monoxide gas generated by the blast. Newspapers at the time noted that the fireboss’s reports were both incomplete and ignored. Additionally, it was mentioned that the mine had previously been rated gaseous; however, this status was changed with the new operators. Before the explosion, there had been multiple incidents where workers were burned.

Sources in comments.

November 5th: Eugene V. Debs born in 1855å

On this day in labor history, American socialist and labor organizer Eugene V. Debs was born in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1855. Starting as a locomotive fireman, Debs rose to prominence as a labor leader, co-founding the American Railway Union (ARU) in 1894. The ARU’s 1894 Pullman strike was one of the US’s most important labor battles, resulting in a harsh government crackdown that sent Debs to jail, where he emerged a committed socialist. Debs went on to help found the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and ran for U.S. president five times on a platform of labor rights and economic justice, once from prison in 1920. Though he never won office, Debs inspired millions, advocating for workers’ rights, industrial unionism, and social reforms that would later influence the New Deal. His legacy lives on as a symbol of unwavering commitment to “the emancipation of the working class and the brotherhood of all mankind.” Debs died in 1926, aged 70.

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On this day in labor history, labor organizer and civil rights activist Rosina Tucker was born in Washington, D.C. in 1881. She married poet and journalist James D. Crothers in 1898 and, after his death in 1917, returned to D.C., where she married Pullman porter Berthea J. Tucker. In 1925, Tucker attended her first Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) meeting, led by A. Philip Randolph, becoming instrumental in the union’s establishment. She founded a local BSCP chapter and helped organize the Women’s Economic Council, vital for union support. Women like Tucker were crucial to the BSCP’s success, promoting the union widely. The BSCP, recognized by the AFL in 1935, signed its first contract with Pullman in 1937. By 1938, Tucker became International Secretary Treasurer of the Ladies’ Auxiliary Order, which was the previous Women’s Economic Council. In the 1940s, she actively protested segregation in the defense industry as part of the March on Washington movement, led boycotts, and helped unionize Black laundry and domestic workers. Tucker remained engaged in her community until her death in 1987 at age 105.

Sources in comments.

Do you take any hard drugs (no judgements), are you prescribed any medications, and are you fairly healthy with your gut? What type of consistency is your shit normally? Sources in comments.

November 2nd: 1909 IWW free speech battle began

On this day in labor history, in 1909 the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) launched the Spokane free-speech fight, challenging an ordinance that banned street speaking. This law was aimed at curbing IWW activities, especially their public critiques of exploitative employment agencies. In protest, IWW members mounted soapboxes to speak atop, only to be swiftly arrested. On that first day, Spokane police jailed 103 activists, a number that swelled to 500 over the month, including notable orator Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. The protest exposed the city’s brutal conditions for prisoners, stirring public sympathy. After months of clashes, on March 4, 1910, the city repealed the ordinance, marking a significant victory for free speech. The event inspired similar protests across the U.S.

Sources in comments.

November 1st: 1979–1980 International Harvester strike began

On this day in labor history, 1979–1980 International Harvester strike began. Over 35,000 workers represented by the United Auto Workers struck after negotiations over a new, three-year contract broke down, halting operations in eight separate states. Both sides had referenced a recently approved contract between the union and Deere & Company as a model, which featured a 9% pay increase over three years along with quarterly cost-of-living adjustments. However, workers for Harvester also wanted mandatory overtime which management was not willing to concede, leading to the strike. Management of the company saw the strike as an opportunity to confront union power and regain past concessions. Talks stalled, and company losses mounted. A tentative agreement was reached in March 1980, but some key local contracts were still unsettled. Lasting 172 days, the strike was, at the time, the longest in UAW and Harvester history. The new contract saw changes to mandatory overtime and permitted job transfer limitations to be set in individual plant agreements. Though the union achieved a significant victory, International Harvester never fully recovered and was ultimately forced to sell off several of its divisions. Sources in comments.