Chronology of Illinois Labor History
1819
The Apprenticeship Law provided the first protection for minors in Illinois.
1861
The first meeting to form the first national miners' union in the U.S. took place in Belleville, when
the American Miners' Association was formed. The Association became inactive after 1868.
1863
Strikes of coal miners led to passage of the La Salle Black Law, which "prohibited any person
from preventing any other person from working at any lawful occupation on any terms he might
see fit and from combining for the purpose of depriving the owner or possessor of property of its
lawful use and management."
1865
The Iron Molder's International Union met in Chicago. It was described as the "largest convention
of workingmen of one craft ever held on the continent" up to that time. Under the leadership of
William Sylvis, the union was considered the most powerful in number, resources and
completeness and the most ably led trade union in America in that period.
1867
March: an act making eight hours a legal day's work was passed.
May 1: "Eight Hour Day Strike". Chicago workers led by the Molders Union tried to get employers
to obey the law passed in March for eight hours to be the "legal work day in the State of Illinois."
1874
January: Workingmen's Party of Illinois was organized.
1877
Local assemblies of the Knights of Labor chartered in Peoria, Chicago, and Springfield.
Delegates from 17 trade unions met to form a Trade Council, which was the forerunner of the
Chicago Federation of Labor.
During railroad strike of 1877 militia detailed to Peoria, Chicago, Decatur, Galesburg, and East St.
Louis.
July 26:"Battle of the Viaduct"--U.S. troops of the Second Militia Regiment and police attacked
about 5,000 workers at Halsted and 16th Street in Chicago. "Turner Hall Raid"--Police raided the
hall during a meeting of the German Furniture Workers, killed Mr. Tessman, wounded many
others. A judge later found the police guilty of preventing the workers from exercizing their right to
freedom of speech and assembly.
1879
April: Illinois General Assembly passed Armed Workmen Law, requiring all military organizations
other than the state militia to be licensed by the governor.
Creation of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics.
1881
April: Strike at Carne factory.
1884
First convention of the Illinois State Federation of Labor met in Chicago and declared that May 1,
1886, would be the day for workers all over America to demand the eight-hour day.
1885
July: Street car strike in Chicago.
1886
May 4: Haymarket protest meeting at which a bomb was thrown, killing 8 police officers and
wounding about 65 other persons.
1887
November 11: Convicted Haymarket bombers Parsons, Spies, Fischer, and Engel were
executed.
The Cole Anti- Boycott Law and the Merritt Conspiracy Law were passed as a reaction to the
Haymarket affair.
1888
Burlington Strike of engineers and firemen was the most serious labor conflict ever experienced
by that railroad and raised the issue of protection of interstate commerce against boycotts and the
quasi-public nature of railroads.
1889
Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr open Hull House. Investigations undertaken by residents of
Hull House led to the establishment of free employment offices, regulation of sweatshops, state
factory inspection, and other progressive social legislation.
1893
June 26: Governor Altgeld pardoned the remaining persons convicted of the Haymarket bombing-Neebe, Fielden, and Schwab.
1894
Workers at Pullman Car Company strike over wage cuts. American Railway Union called general
railroad strike in sympathy. President Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago in defiance of
Governor Altgeld.
1895
Passage of first version of law providing for the investigation of labor disputes.
1897
Chicago teachers organize into the Chicago Teachers' Federation. In 1902, they affiliated wih the
AFL.
1898
October 12:Repudiation of an agreement for the eight- hour day, a wage increase, abolishment of
the company store and recognition of the United Mine Workers led to the "Virden Riot", when
striking miners opposed the introduction of strikebreakers and armed guards. Ten miners and six
guards were killed and about 30 persons wounded.
1899
First public employment office opened in Chicago. Also employment agencies required to be
licensed by the state.
1904
Meat packers strike. Union members return to work under the same conditions as prior to the
strike.
1905
November: The Industrial Workers of the World was founded in Chicago.
1907
State Department of Factory Inspection created.
1909
Ten hour day law for women passed.
1910
Strike of clothing workers against Hart, Shaffner and Marx in Chicago led by Sidney Hillman,
which later led to the founding of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers. It was of outstanding
importance for it marked the beginning of a most highly elaborated industrial government.
1911
Occupational Disease Act passed.
Workmen's Compensation Act passed.
1914
Henrici strikes, Chicago. Use of excessive force by Chicago police. These strikes clarified the
Illinois labor law concerning boycotts.
1915
November: Joe Hill was executed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and brought to Chicago for a giant
funeral. His ashes were later scattered at the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument in Waldheim
Cemetery.
1922
June 22: Striking United Mine Workers in Herrin clashed with strikebreakers and 22 of the latter
killed. Men accused of killings tried and acquitted.
Amalgamated Trust and Savings Bank of Chicago started. It was sponsored by the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers and was the first bank ever sponsored by a union.
1926
July 21: WCFL, the Voice of Labor premiered with two hours of music.
1929
Children required to complete elementary grades before going to work.
1932
Split in the United Mine Workers led to creation of the Progressive Miners of America.
1933
Italian labor organizer, Giovanni Pippan was murdered during his campaign to organize the Italian
bread wagon drivers of Chicago.
1935
Illinois Six Day Work Week Law was passed.
1936
General Assembly enacted Workmen's Occupational Diseases Act and the Industrial Homework
Law.
Pekin became the smallest American community ever to experience a general strike, which was
called to protest the unfair employment practices of the American Distilling Company. The strike
left the town completely paralyzed for three days.
1937
Eight hour day law for women was passed.
Unemployment Compensation Act passed.
February 17: workers at Fansteel Corporation staged a sit-down strike to gain recognition of their
union. This strike later led to a decision of the U.S. Supreme court declaring the illegality of such
strikes.
May: "Memorial Day Massacre"--Ten men were killed and eight wounded in a Memorial Day
clash between police and members of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee at the plant of
the Republic Steel Company in South Chicago.
1941
Act passed making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, or creed in training or
employment by firms operating under governmental defense contracts.
1943
Equal Pay for Women Act passed.
1943-44
Chairman of Montgomery Ward refuses to comply with War Labor Board orders to extend
contract signed in 1942. President Roosevelt orders seizure of Ward's property in Chicago, with
Secretary of Commerce as manager. After union elections, the seizure was terminated until
December 27, 1944, when an executive order authorized the Secretary of War to seize all Ward's
property to force compliance with War Labor Board orders which Ward's was flagrantly ignoring.
The seizure was terminated in 1945 by President Truman.
1946
The Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations opened at the University of Illinois. Its three-phase
program included: extension services for civic, labor, and management groups, research and
information, and professional instruction at the University.
1952
August 21: Strike against International Harvester by the United Electrical Workers.
1961
Fair Employment Practices Act passed.
1967
The Chicago Teachers' Union was recognized by the Chicago Board of Education.
1968
Representatives of four railway operating unions met in Chicago to form the United
Transportation Union.
1969
May 22: First strike by Chicago teachers lasting 3 days.
August 5: Founding meeting of the Illinois Labor History Society.
1971
Illinois Minimum Wage Law passed.
1972
Agreement, called the Chicago Plan, negotiated between U.S. Department of Labor, area building
contractors, and nine Chicago-area building trades unions by which goals for hiring minority
workers were established.
1974
Coalition of Labor Union Women was founded in Chicago.
Governor Walker issues Executive Order Number 6, establishing the Office of Collective
Bargaining extending bargaining rights to state employees employed in agencies under the
Governor.
1986
Illinois State Labor Relations Act and Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act passed, permitting
employees of state and local government units to organize and bargain.
1993
June 27: Staley Manufacturing in Decatur locked out 763 UPIU Local 7837 members.
1994
June 21: UAW Members began a strike at Caterpillar, Inc., plants in Peoria, Decatur, and Pontiac.
1995
Strike at Bridgestone/Firestone plant in Decatur
December 2-3: UAW members rejected Caterpillar offer, but central bargaining committee ended
strike.
1996
Trailmobile locked out members of UPIU in Charleston.
rev. 3/20/02 mc