Wandering Adventure Party

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

Today, for Black History Month, we honor the memory of Mary Fields (c. 1832–12/5/1914), also known as Stagecoach Mary, an American mail carrier who was the first Black woman to be employed as a star route postwoman in the United States. She was born into slavery. After emancipation, she worked as a chambermaid on a steamship, and as a household servant. In 1895, at the age of sixty, she got a job as a Star Route Carrier, which used a stagecoach to deliver mail in the harsh weather and rocky terrain of Montana. She carried multiple firearms, most notably a .38 Smith & Wesson under her apron to protect herself and the mail from wolves, thieves and bandits. She never missed a day, and her reliability earned her the nickname "Stagecoach Mary." When the snow was too deep for horses, she delivered the mail on snowshoes, carrying the sacks on her shoulders.#workingclass #LaborHistory #stagecoachmary #maryfields #slavery #blackhistorymonth #BlackMastodon

Today in Labor History August 31, 1933: Italian American labor organizer and socialist, Giovanni Pippan, was murdered during his campaign to organize the Italian bread wagon drivers of Chicago. In 1921, he was beaten by fascists in Albona, Italy, while on his way to support striking miners. In response to this fascist attack, the workers of the region rose up, occupied all the mines, and declared the Albona Republic. They organized their own government and “red guard” to protect themselves from law enforcement. They managed the mines by themselves with the support of a section of farmers. 1 month later, the republic was violently crushed by the state. For his role, Pippan was threatened with death by the local fascists. He fled to the U.S. There, he helped organize the silk workers of Patterson, New Jersey; participated in the organization and defense of the anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti; and fought against fascist elements within the Italian-American community.#workingclass #LaborHistory #socialism #communism #italy #fascism #antifascism #antifa #giovannipippan #solidarity