Today in Labor History March 4, 1933: Frances Perkins became U.S. Secretary of Labor, the first female member of the United States Cabinet. As labor secretary, she helped develop the social security system in 1935. She also played an important role in the development of other New Deal programs. And in 1939, she came under fire from Congress for refusing to support the deportation of ILWU chief, Harry Bridges, who they accused of being a Communist. As a young woman, Perkins worked with Florence Kelly, a social and political organizer who fought against sweatshops and for the minimum wage, eight-hour workday and children’s rights. Kelley was a follower of Karl Marx and a friend of Friedrich Engels. Perhaps for these reasons, people accused Perkins of being a Communist, which she was not. Perkins had also volunteered at Hull House, with Jane Addams.#workingclass #LaborHistory #feminism #womenshistorymonth #communism #harrybridges #francesperkins #florencekelly #marx #communism #janeaddams #socialsecurity #newdeal #sweatshops #ilwlu
