Yesterday in La Crosse
A strike against Trane, 63 years ago
A walkout against the Trane Company in 1955 came after a union rejected three company offers. About 1700 Trane employees were off the job. They got $10 a week in benefits while walking the picket line. One problem was the length of the contract. The union wanted a year-long pact, but the company wanted longer. The offer for more pay reportedly added up to a 4 cent per hour raise.
Five men were stricken by 95-degree heat in the area. One man died from the heat, and the city of La Crosse urged an end to lawn sprinkling during the hot weather.
The Ringling Brothers circus was coming to town, onto Ericskon Field, where the current pool and playground stand near Losey Boulevard. The Ringlings would soon give up using the big top tent for their shows.
Households with TV sets were checking out new series in ’55. Bandleader Lawrence Welk got his own “champagne music” show. “The Honeymooners” with Jackie Gleason became a weekly series. And two new shows for kids began in October…”Captain Kangaroo” and “The Mickey Mouse Club” in 1955, yesterday in La Crosse.