Today in labor history: Gravediggers’ strike ends

On this day in 1992, the gravediggers’ union – Local 106 of the Service Employees International Union – ended their 43-day strike in Chicago, after reaching a contractual agreement with the Cemeteries Association of Greater Chicago. They had been striking over starting pay and health care after the old contract between workers and the association expired on Dec. 1 1991.

Subsequently, nearly 1,100 burials were delayed after negotiations between the two groups broke down and workers were locked out of the association’s 26 cemeteries.

The association’s labor committee and the union officials eventually worked out a three-year contract with the help of a federal mediator.

Photo: Deseret News/Google News


CONTRIBUTOR

Special to People’s World
Special to People’s World

People’s World is a voice for progressive change and socialism in the United States. It provides news and analysis of, by, and for the labor and democratic movements to our readers across the country and around the world. People’s World traces its lineage to the Daily Worker newspaper, founded by communists, socialists, union members, and other activists in Chicago in 1924.

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