33 men died on Lake Michigan with the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley during one of the worst storms in the lake’s history. The 623-foot ship, carrying limestone, broke in two. Two crewmen survived - 1958

Laundry & Dry Cleaning International Union granted a charter by the AFL-CIO - 1958

United Wallpaper Craftsmen & Workers of North America merges with Pulp, Sulfite & Paper Mill Workers - 1958

In what some may consider one of the many management decisions that was to help cripple the American auto industry over the following decades, Ford Motor Co. produces its first Edsel. Ford dropped the project two years later after losing approximately $350 million - 1957

International Brotherhood of Paper Makers merges with United Paperworkers of America to become United Papermakers & Paperworkers - 1957

Players formed The NHL Players Association in New York City after owners refuse to release pension plan financial information. The union was busted when owners transferred key activists, but it successfully re-formed ten years later - 1957

American Train Dispatchers Department granted a charter by the AFL-CIO - 1957

American Federation of Teachers Local 89 in Atlanta, Georgia disaffiliates from the national union because of an AFT directive that all its locals integrate. A year later, the AFT expelled all locals that refused to do so - 1956

In one of the U.S. auto industry’s more embarrassing missteps over the last half-century, the Ford Motor Co. decides to name their new model the Edsel, after Henry Ford’s only son. Ford executives rejected 18,000 other potential names - 1956

Int'l Metal Engravers & Marking Device Workers Union changed its name to International Association of Machinists - 1956

Government & Civic Employees Organizing Committee merges into State, County & Municipal Employees - 1956

The AFL-CIO opens its new headquarters building, in view of the White House - 1956