The Territorial Enterprise's composing room, Virginia City, circa 1900. Photo, courtesy Nevada Historical Society
Nevada Labor History
Nevada Labor History is a largely untold story. You can change all that by helping tell the tale — and writing a couple of chapters yourself. (Click here for a history of the union label)
HELP US OUT — In Search Of...Women Teamsters in Nevada
The trade union movement in the west was born in Virginia City in the days of the Comstock Lode during the Civil War.
The gold and silver rush also gave birth to the oldest continually operating labor organization in Nevada, the Washoe Typographical Union, now part of Communications Workers of America Local 9413, which counts the editor of this site among its members.
The original 1863 charter was destroyed by the Great Virginia City Fire of 1875 and replaced in 1876. CWA 9413 proudly maintains that charter and the venerable union's individual identity.
The complete text of the 1876 charter will be posted here soon. Click here to view a photo.
NevadaLabor.com proudly follows in the deep tracks of printers ink left by the likes of Sam Clemens, Dan deQuille, Lucius Beebe, Charles Clegg and their fellow immortals of the Territorial Enterprise and her illustrious sisters such as the Gold Hill News.
Their direct descendants work in the state printing plant in Carson City. Nevada law still mandates that the Silver State's printery must be a union shop signatory with the Washoe Typographical Union.
All submissions to the Nevada Labor History pages will be welcome, but only the best will be published.
Photos, illustrations, publications, memories and diaries are all important. Material submitted digitally will enjoy an edge, but careful research and well-crafted writing will always prevail.
I've just added a link to the North West Labour History Group. "The Industrial Revolution transformed first Lancashire, then Britain and then the world," they state.
Just as their area gave birth to the movement, Nevada spawned trade unionism throughout the American wild, wild west. In that respect, we share history.
The rich story of labor in Nevada has been all but neglected and we intend to change that.
We've already got a couple of contributions by noted Nevada historians Phil Earl and Guy Rocha, so let's get at it.
As usual, if you don't do the work, it just won't get done.
Be well. Raise hell.
WIKIPEDIA/LABOR LAW: A detailed primer on union busting, liberally quoting late Las Vegan Martin Jay Levitt, a former union buster who made up for his sins.
In Solidarity,
Andrew Barbano, Editor
NevadaLabor.com
P.O. Box 10034
Reno, NV 89510
(775) 786-1455
Fax 747-0979
barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
In Search Of... HELP US OUT — In Search Of...Women Teamsters in Nevada
Nevada Historical TimelineUpdated Political History of Nevada published
First new edition in 10 years
Carson City Nevada Appeal 8-3-2006
U-News
Breaking News/Bulletins 1999-2005 Archive
Includes
selected historical excerpts from Poor Denny's Almanac beginning with
the 8-11-2004 installment.
CURRENT Breaking News/Bulletins/Almanac
Hannah
Keziah Clapp builds the Nevada Capitol Iron Fence and other pioneering
tales
A
nice Labor Day story
The labor films former
actor and union president Ronald Reagan didn't want you to ever
see
Preserving history: Painters Union volunteers renovate historic Comstock Lode site
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The artists of preservation - Back row, left to right, John Loughan with his arm around his sister; James Ayers, Nathan Sabin, Sandra MacDonald, Jack Carson, Terry Patterson and Juan Velez. Kneeling, left to right, Gwen Sicuro and Journeyman Mo Hursh. Not pictured: Journeymen Marty McGuire and John Glenn; apprentices Cain Passi and Erin Duhr. |
Virginia City's Fourth Ward School gets a facelift - Apprentices and journeymen from Painters and Allied Trades Local 567 renovated Virginia City's historic Fourth Ward School in the fall of 1997. Union members also performed the work the previous time the building was painted in 1986.
"We are once again pleased and proud that our apprentices have the opportunity to begin their careers on such an important project," Local 567 business manager Todd Koch said when the work began.
"Many of those who worked on the Fourth Ward School 11 years ago are still practicing their trade in northern Nevada," he added.
About 15 journeymen and apprentices participated in
the project over four weekends. The south and east faces of the site had
been subjected to extensive weathering over the years.
Labor and materials totaling $40,000 were donated
by the union and various suppliers. Fuller Color Center donated the paint
with additional safety equipment and painting supplies coming from Lindell's
Painting Service. Both companies are Reno-based. Brand Scaffold Rental
and Erection of Concord, Calif., partially donated scaffolding, safety
harnesses and related supplies. Remaining costs were covered by the Nevada
Commission on Cultural Affairs and the National Parks Grant Program. This
phase was part of a $135,000 exterior restoration program.
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Fourth Ward School,
Virginia City, after restoration
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Painters apprentices
spruce up Reno's historic Lake Mansion
Painters and Allied Trades Local 567 celebrates
its centennial
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