a mug that recalls the rough days of the early 20th century labor movement.
It was a lousy time to work in mines. In some mines, miners were required to rent their tools. Subtract the cost of rent from what they earned, and the total was approximately $0. Today we call that slave labor.
You wouldn't want to be working in a sweatshop either. You'd be locked in the sewing room, lest you waste time on bathroom breaks or lunch or any other human necessity.
The 146 girls and women burned to death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire were victims of this practice. (I said girls, because some of the workers were as young as 15)
Nor would you want to work in a slaughterhouse. Read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. If that doesn't turn you into a vegetarian, nothing will.
Those who fought for working people could expect to be arrested, or shot, as in the case of what happened at the Haymarket riot, which began as a peaceful rally in support of an 8-hour work day.
Get it here:
https://www.zazzle.com/1917_fellow_workers_remember_coffee_mug-168540579455403564
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