unions

The Ukrainian Jewess Who Organized L.A.’s Mexican Garment Workers

In the early 20th century, seamstresses in the U.S. worked long hours for little pay. Anarchist and feminist labor organizer Rose Pesotta helped shake up the industry. At 16, Pesotta (born Rakhel Peisoty) fled Ukraine to avoid an arranged marriage. She came to New York, found work as a seamstress, wrote for radical Yiddish […]

from Jewniverse

The Bagel Maker’s Union of the Lower East Side

The Bagel Bakers Union of the Lower East Side

A snapshot of turn-of-the-century Lower East Side reveals Jewish greenhorns peddling, hawking, and bargaining in Yiddish. There are meat and fish carts, vegetables, tailors, artists, and theater-troupes. And, of course, there are bagels. In the early 20th century, there were so many bagel makers, in fact, that a trade union local needed to be established […]

from Jewniverse