Slate, Strikes, and Unions
Exploring the History of Labor in the Slate Industry Curated by Kaidin Phelan
Labor History in the Slate Valley of New York and Vermont, Late Nineteenth Century to Mid Twentieth Century
Since at least the 1840s, the slate industry has operated in the Slate Valley, where thousands of skilled laborers have extracted slate from the Earth. The relationship between workers and quarry owners has been contentious at times, leading to strikes and demands through labor unions when tensions flared. The industry often experiences cycles of prosperity and hardship, greatly impacting the lives of quarry workers and owners. Many workers accepted pay decreases during difficult times, but argued that it was unfair for pay not to increase during prosperous times.
The Slate Valley Museum's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.