Labor History and Rights Resources

August 22, 2021 in Carousel

You may have heard the phrase “regulations are written in blood.” The laws and regulations that gave us weekends and paid holidays, the right to form unions, and so many of our rights and protections at work exist because people fought for them. Below is just a short list of resources about the history of labor, the issues we face at work today, and your rights to organize at your workplace. We hope it inspires you to continue your own learning and research!

National Organizations and Websites

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

The AFL-CIO is a democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions, representing 12.5 million working men and women. If you’re interested in organizing at your workplace, take a look at their “Form a Union” resources.

Raise the Minimum Wage

Raise the Minimum Wage is a campaign from the National Employment Law Project with the goal of raising the federal minimum wage to $15.

The National Labor Relations Board

Interested in organizing your workplace? Take a look at “Your Rights During Union Organizing” and “The Right to Strike” on the National Labor Relations Board website.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings collection includes many labor and protest songs from the United States and around the world. Take some time to browse through the collection, or search for artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Joe Glazer, or take a look at specific albums and playlists like Classic Labor Songs.

Local Organizations and Websites

Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body

Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body is the local Labor Council chartered by the national AFL-CIO.

New York City Labor History Map

Explore this interactive map to learn more not just about the events of labor movement history, but the hidden history we walk by everyday! Did you know, for example, that the first slave revolt in New York took place just outside of where the Federal Reserve building is today? Or that when you walk by 54th and Broadway, you’re walking by the headquarters of The International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union?

Tamiment Library & Wagner Labor Archives at New York University

The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives collects material about the history of labor and social movements in the United States.

The Tenement Museum

The immigrant communities of New York City played an important role in the labor movement in the United States. Learn more by making a visit to the Tenement Museum in-person, or by exploring their online exhibits, including Immigrants Mean Business: An Enduring History of Entrepreneurship.