02 October
American Federation of Labor officially endorses campaign for a six hour day, five day workweek – 1934
Starbucks Workers Union baristas at an outlet in East Grand Rapids, Mich., organized by the Wobblies, win their grievances after the National Labor Relations Board cites the company for labor law violations, including threats against union activists – 2007
Also in labor history–R.I.P.
Dionicio Morales, a former labor organizer whose efforts helped lead to one of the nation’s largest Latino social service providers, has died. He was 89.
Morales died Sept. 24 of natural causes at Beverly Hospital in Montebello, Calif., said his daughter, Magdalena Morales.
He was organizing garment workers in the early 1960s when he decided to do something to help residents of the largely Hispanic neighborhoods east of downtown Los Angeles who lacked health care, job training, child care and other services.
He created the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in 1963 and called the White House for help. Morales eventually persuaded then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson to meet with members of the Mexican-American community in Los Angeles. Johnson later helped his foundation secure funding from the Department of Labor.
The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation provides services including English classes and immigration assistance mainly to people with low and moderate incomes.
Morales said he learned firsthand the need for health care and other services after several friends and relatives too poor to see a doctor died in a tuberculosis outbreak.