Today in History, April 16th

Employers locked out 25,000 garment workers in New York City in a dispute over hiring practices. The International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union called a general strike and, after 14 weeks, 60,000 striking workers won union recognition and the contractual right to strike.

Thousands protested at meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. One of a growing number of globalization demonstrations, the event targeted policies that aid corporate profits while increasing poverty and environmental degradation. For more information on trade policies and globalization, go to www.citizenstrade.org