Milestones in Labor History --October-- 6 1918 - Women trade unionists hold first national conference. 1993 - President Clinton signs the Federal Employees Political Activities Act (Hatch Act Reform) which, for the first time in over 50 years, grants postal and federal workers the right to participate in partisan politics. 7 1879 - Birthdate of Joe Hill, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organizer, songwriter, and poet. 18 1648 - Shoemakers of Boston, first labor organization in America founded. 21-22 2001 – October 21 death of postal worker Thomas L. Morris, Jr. and on October 22, death of Joseph P. Curseen, Jr. Both of these APWU brothers worked at the Brentwood Mail Center in Washington D.C. and came in contact with envelopes containing weaponized anthrax spores coming from terrorist anthrax attacks. On October 21 Brother Morris called 911 and the tape of the call revealed that he told the operator of his fear he had contracted anthrax and said his symptoms were those being discussed on the news. Regarding postal management, he reported they said, “I don’t know anything, I don’t know anything.” “I couldn’t even find out if the stuff was or wasn’t. I was told that it wasn’t, but I have a tendency not to believe these people,” Morris said. Hours later, Thomas L. Morris Jr. was dead. 23 1938 - National Association of Post Office Custodial Employees organized. 24 1940 - The 40-hour work week went into effect under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938