Marking 100 Years: The history of Workers’ Compensation

June 16th, 2010 by Julie Ferguson

Workers comp is 100 years old this year and by way of Roberto Ceniceros’ informative blog Comp Time, we learn that there is a Workers’ Compensation Centennial Commission (WCCC), which was formed to celebrate the anniversary of the first constitutional workers’ compensation law in the United States. The WCCC was organized by a bi-partisan coalition of Wisconsin-based labor and government leaders, which is reaching out to other states to commemorate the anniversary of the landmark legislation. It’s pretty appropriate that this initiative is kicking off in Wisconsin because that was the state where the first state workers’ compensation law was signed on May 3, 1911.
The WCCC site has collected some really interesting resources, including a photo gallery and various historical documents. And one of the centerpieces of the collection is a terrific 10-minute video that was created by students from Nimitz High in Houston Texas for the 2008 National History Day.

Great job on the film – thanks, Nimitz High students!

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