On This Day In Labor History

June 13, 1381 - Continuation of Wat Tylers Rebellion: Thousands of peasants marched into London to demand an end to serfdom and higher wages. At first King Richard II acceded to their demands, but then had peasant leader Wat Tyler killed and reneged on his promises. Hundreds of peasants were executed.

June 13, 1889 - Amadeo Bordiga, Italian Marxist and proponent of Council Communism was born. Bordiga once called Stalin "the gravedigger of the revolution."

June 13, 1900 - China's Boxer Rebellion against foreigners and Christians continues. The rebellion began in response to the beating of two young Boxers by Baron von Ketteler, German colonial ambassador. The uprising began with riots and arson, with Ketteler himself ultimately being ambushed and killed.

June 13, 1914 - A riot erupted out at the Miner's Union Day parade in Butte Montana. Acting mayor Frank Curran was pushed out of second-story window. Frustration and mistrust had been growing for decades. In 1914, miners were being paid $3.50 a day, the same as in 1878, despite the fact that the price of copper had more than doubled in that same time period.

June 13, 1925 - During continuing strike actions, angry miners burned three company stores in Nova Scotia to the ground.