1959 Steel Strike at Fairless

1959 Steel Strike at Fairless

Author: Gabe Christy and Young Sam James March 8, 2025 Duration: 44:56
In 1959, 500,000 Steel Workers across the country went on strike against the three major steel producers in the country. This months long battle involved everything from Cold War tensions to planned communities without mass transit. Originally aired: August 22, 2023. 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
Hershey Chocolate Workers Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:48
In the midst of the Great Depression, a group of workers at the Hershey Chocolate Company went on a sit down strike for better conditions, wages, and most importantly, union recognition. The ensuing battle pitted worker…
Philadelphia Museum of Art Strike - Interview with PMA Union [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:31
In 2020, workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art voted to unionize, but it took 2 years and a 19 day strike for them to get a first contract. Gabe and Sam sit down with Tim Tiebout, Adam Mazieka, and Juliet Vinegra to…
Apex Hosiery Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
Workers from the largest non-union hosiery mill in 1930s Philadelphia go on strike. Originally aired: January 11, 2022. Support the show www.laborjawn.com
Knights of Labor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:22
Originally founded as a secret society of tailors, the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor eventually grew to become a national labor force of 700,000 workers. Episodes 18-19 originally aired: March 21, 2022. Su…
1902 Anthracite Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 histo…
Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:21
By the end of the American War for Independence, soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line had gone for months with little to no pay. Their only recourse left: mutiny against congress. Originally aired: October 4, 2022. Support…
Philadelphia Transit Company Strike of 1944 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:33
Wartime Philly: thousands of white transit workers walk off the job to protest the promotion of eight black employees. Originally aired: January 17, 2022. Support the show www.laborjawn.com
1919 Bartenders Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:09
When prohibition became law in January 1919, it left many questions unanswered. During this uncertainty, bartenders in Philadelphia went out on strike in a political protest. Originally aired: September 19, 2022. Support…