1902 Anthracite Strike

1902 Anthracite Strike

Author: Gabe Christy and Young Sam James April 1, 2025 Duration: 1:03:56
After winning their first fight in 1900, Pennsylvania anthracite miners went on strike for the 8 hour day, higher wages, and union recognition. This would lead to one of the first federal mediation committees in US history. Support the show www.laborjawn.com

There’s a particular rhythm to a city’s past, one often drowned out by the usual stories of founders and famous figures. Labor Jawn tunes into a different frequency, following the beat of everyday life and collective struggle that truly built Philadelphia. Hosted by historian Gabe Christy and musician Young Sam James, this podcast digs into the rich, gritty, and frequently overlooked working-class history of the city and the wider world it connects to. Each episode feels like a conversation you’d overhear in a neighborhood taproom, blending rigorous historical research with the cultural echoes found in music and art. You’ll hear about the factory floors and union halls, the dockyards and domestic spaces where ordinary people organized, created, and pushed for change. The dynamic between Christy’s expertise and James’s cultural insight makes the past feel immediate and surprisingly relevant, revealing how yesterday’s fights for dignity and a fair wage still resonate today. It’s a deep, engaging listen for anyone curious about the real foundations of a city, understanding that history is never just about dates, but about the sound of countless voices rising together. Find more from Labor Jawn wherever you get your podcasts.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Labor Jawn
Podcast Episodes
1969 Philadelphia Hotel Workers Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:56
In a period when Philadelphia's tourism industry was starting to soar, hotel workers' wages were stagnant. They launched a strategically timed strike to fight for a raise, while a rank and file caucus pressured union lea…
1977 SEPTA Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
In 1977, SEPTA workers walked out into a bitter 44 day struggle, leading to a rank and file fight against both the bosses and their own union leadership. Originally aired: August 24, 2022. Support the show www.laborjawn.…
Voices of Labor - Amanda Gilmore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:17
At Philadelphia's 2025 May Day Rally and March, Gabe and Sam ran around with a microphone to get recordings from union members, organizers, and workers. Each person was asked 4 questions: -Who was the worst boss you've e…
1946 Price Control Protests [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:07
During WW2, to prevent the runaway inflation experienced in the 1st World War, the US Government established the Office of Price Administration to enforce price ceilings and regulate business. But after the war conservat…
Mariposa Food Co-op - Interview with Will Inglis and Mika Romano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:43
In March 2021, workers at the Mariposa Food Co-Op in West Philly formed a union with UFCW Local 1776. Today, they're working to build more power in order to make Mariposa into an even better place to work. Originally air…
1933 Chester Ford Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:36
Before the United Auto Workers formed in 1935, there had been multiple attempts to organize the industry. In 1933, Ford Workers in Chester, Pennsylvania went out for union recognition, triggering multiple other strikes a…
Garbage Collectors Strike of 1938 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:55
While private sector employees in Philadelphia had been seeing huge union wins throughout the 1930s, municipal workers were largely left out. This would all change in 1938 when garbage collectors brought the city to a st…
Sugar Strike/Food Riots of 1917 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:09
In early 1917, workers at sugar refineries in South Philly went on strike for better hours, conditions, and pay. But after weeks of stalemate, poverty, and staggering inflation, the strike turned into a violent clash bet…
1913 Hazleton Silk Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:11
In Hazleton, Pennsylvania, radical silk workers fought an uphill battle against the bosses, scabs, and even the American Federation of Labor. Originally aired: January 29, 2024. Support the show www.laborjawn.com