1934 West Coast waterfront strike

1934 West Coast waterfront strike
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Name	1934 West Coast waterfront strike
Date	May 9 – July 31, 1934
Place	Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, Port of Portland, Port of San Francisco, Port of Los Angeles, Port of San Diego
Goals	Union recognition, improved wages, control of hiring halls
Methods	Strike action, Picketing, General strike
Result	Union victory; arbitration award favorable to workers
Side1	International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), Maritime Federation of the Pacific
Side2	Waterfront Employers Association, Industrial Association of San Francisco, State National Guards, Local Police
Leadfigures1	Harry Bridges, Harry Lundeberg
Leadfigures2	Various employer representatives
Casualties	Deaths: At least 6, Injuries: Hundreds

1934 West Coast waterfront strike was a major labor dispute that paralyzed every Pacific Coast port from Washington to California for 83 days. It was a pivotal event in American labor history, marked by violent clashes, a city-wide general strike in San Francisco, and significant intervention by state authorities. The strike resulted in a major victory for the International Longshoremen's Association and established the militant leadership of Harry Bridges, reshaping labor relations on the waterfront for decades.

Background and causes

The strike emerged from deep-seated grievances among longshoremen following years of economic hardship during the Great Depression. Workers labored under the oppressive "shape-up" hiring system controlled by employer-backed company unions, which led to chronic underemployment, arbitrary favoritism, and dangerous working conditions. The passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act in 1933, particularly Section 7(a), emboldened workers by guaranteeing the right to collective bargaining. Longshoremen, organized under the International Longshoremen's Association Pacific Coast District, sought to replace the shape-up with union-controlled hiring halls, secure better wages, and gain recognition as the sole bargaining agent. The intransigence of the Waterfront Employers Association, which refused to negotiate with the ILA and sought to break the union, made a major confrontation inevitable.

The strike and key events

The strike began on May 9, 1934, when nearly 35,000 maritime workers, including longshoremen, sailors, and marine firemen, walked off the job. The key flashpoint was San Francisco, where the Industrial Association of San Francisco attempted to open the port using strikebreakers protected by police. On July 5, a day known as "Bloody Thursday," police clashed with picketers at the intersection of Mission Street and Steuart Street, resulting in the deaths of two strikers, Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise, and injuries to dozens more. The violent suppression led to a massive funeral procession down Market Street and catalyzed the 1934 San Francisco general strike, which shut down the city for four days. Similar, though less extensive, clashes and sympathy strikes occurred in ports like Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.

Government and union response

Government response was heavily weighted against the strikers. California Governor Frank Merriam called out the California National Guard to occupy the San Francisco waterfront, and mayors like Angelo Rossi of San Francisco strongly backed police actions. Federal intervention came through the National Longshoremen's Board, a mediation panel appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The board, chaired by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna, ultimately arbitrated the dispute. Union strategy was directed by the radical leadership of Australian-born Harry Bridges and the support of the broader Maritime Federation of the Pacific. The unions maintained remarkable solidarity across craft lines and ports, successfully resisting employer efforts to operate with strikebreakers and weathering the initial government crackdown, which galvanized public sympathy and led to the powerful general strike.

Aftermath and legacy

The strike ended on July 31, 1934, when workers returned to the docks pending arbitration. The subsequent award by the National Longshoremen's Board granted the union most of its key demands: a union-controlled hiring hall, a six-hour day, a thirty-hour week, and substantial wage increases. This victory cemented the power of the International Longshoremen's Association and led to the formation of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in 1937 under Bridges's leadership. The strike dramatically altered the balance of power in West Coast labor relations, inspiring further organization in industries like trucking and warehousing. It is remembered as a foundational moment for modern industrial unionism in the United States and a testament to the effectiveness of militant, cross-union solidarity. Category:1934 labor disputes and strikes Category:Maritime history of the United States Category:History of San Francisco Category:20th century in Washington (state) Category:20th century in Oregon Category:20th century in California