Nat'l Assn. of Post Office & General Service Maintenance Employees, United Fed. of Postal Clerks, Nat'l Fed. of Post Office Motor Vehicle Employees & Nat'l Assn. of Special Delivery Messengers merge to become American Postal Workers Union - 1971

17 workers are killed as methane explodes in a water tunnel under construction in Sylmar, Calif. - 1971

New York City drawbridge tenders, in a dispute with the state over pension issues, leave a dozen bridges open, snarling traffic in what the Daily News described as "the biggest traffic snafu in the city's history" - 1971

International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots merges with Longshoremens’ Association - 1971

OSHA enacted - 1971

After years of intensive lobbying by the labor movement, a comprehensive national safety law is enacted as President Nixon signs the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970, creating the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) - 1970

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) takes effect today - 1970

Cesar Chavez jailed for 14 days for refusing to end United Farm Workers' lettuce boycott - 1970

Baseball umpires strike for recognition of their newly-formed Major League Umpires Association, win after one day - 1970

More than 350,000 members of the United Auto Workers begin what is to become a 69-day strike against General Motors - 1970

United Farm Workers Union begins lettuce strike - 1970

Members of the National Football League Players Association begin what is to be a two-day strike, their first. The issues: pay, pensions, the right to arbitration and the right to have agents - 1970