Explosion and fire at Phillips Petroleum refinery in Pasadena, Texas, kills 23 and injures 314 - 1989

Ninety-eight United Mine Workers of America members and a minister occupy the Pittston Coal Company's Moss 3 preparation plant in Carbon, Va.,; the strike had been launched on April 5, 1989. Among other issues: management demands for drastic limitations in health and pension benefits for retired and disabled miners and their dependents and beneficiaries - 1989

Gerry Horgan, chief steward of CWA Local 1103 and NYNEX striker in Valhalla, NY, is struck on the picket line by a car driven by the daughter of a plant manager and dies the following day. What was to become a four-month strike over healthcare benefits was in its second week - 1989

Some 1,700 United Mine Workers members in Virginia and West Virginia go out on strike to beat back concessions demanded by Pittston Coal Co. The strike lasted nearly 11 months, and the key turning point was the Sept. 17th, 1989 takeover of Pittston’s Moss 3 Preparation Plant by UMWA members). - 1989

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers granted a charter by the AFL-CIO - 1989

Machinists strike Eastern Airlines, are soon joined by flight attendants and pilots in the nationwide walkout. Owner Frank Lorenzo refuses to consider the unions’ demands; Eastern ultimately went out of business - 1989

Eastern Airlines Strike - 1989

Tile, Marble, Terrazzo Finishers, Shop Workers & Granite Cutters International Union merges into United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners - 1988

Industrial Union of Marine & Shipbuilding Workers of America merges with International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers - 1988

International Longshore & Warehouse Union granted a charter by the AFL-CIO - 1988

Television writers, members of both the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), end a 22 week strike

The U.S. Supreme Court rules in CWA v. Beck that, in a union security agreement, a union can collect as dues from non-members only that money necessary to perform its duties as a collective bargaining representative - 1988