Boston Police Strike of 1919

Boston Police Strike of 1919. The Boston Police Strike was a landmark labor dispute in American history that erupted in September 1919 when the majority of the Boston Police Department walked off the job. The strike, fueled by post-World War I inflation, poor working conditions, and the denial of AFL affiliation, led to several nights of rioting and looting in the city. The decisive intervention by Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge, who famously refused to rehire the strikers, propelled him to the national stage and fundamentally shaped public sector labor relations for decades.

Background and Causes

The roots of the strike lay in the harsh economic and social conditions following World War I, where rampant inflation severely eroded police salaries. Officers of the Boston Police Department worked long hours in dilapidated station houses, were required to pay for their own uniforms, and received no overtime pay. Inspired by the broader labor movement successes of the era, the officers sought to affiliate with the American Federation of Labor, forming the Boston Police Union. Police Commissioner Edwin Upton Curtis, a staunch opponent of unionization within the police force, declared such affiliation illegal and suspended nineteen union leaders for violating his orders, setting the stage for a direct confrontation. This conflict occurred amidst the First Red Scare, a period of intense fear of Bolshevism and radicalism, which colored the perceptions of the strikers' actions.

The Strike

On September 9, 1919, after last-minute negotiations failed, approximately 1,117 of Boston's 1,544 patrolmen walked off the job. The city was left with minimal police protection, and Mayor Andrew James Peters initially hesitated to request state intervention. For the next two nights, South End and Scollay Square witnessed widespread looting, vandalism, and sporadic violence as criminal elements took advantage of the void. Volunteer deputies and remaining officers were unable to control the unrest, leading to public panic and property damage. The escalating chaos forced Mayor Peters to finally call upon Governor Calvin Coolidge to deploy the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts National Guard to restore order.

Aftermath and Legacy

The immediate aftermath saw the complete defeat of the strikers. Commissioner Curtis fired all participating officers and began recruiting an entirely new police force, explicitly barring the strikers from reinstatement. This hardline stance was fully supported by Governor Coolidge. The strike's failure had a chilling effect on public sector unionization, particularly among police and firefighters, for nearly half a century until the rise of collective bargaining for public employees in the 1960s. The event became a defining case study in debates over the right of public safety workers to strike, influencing labor law and political discourse for generations.

Public and Political Reaction

Initial public sympathy for the underpaid officers evaporated quickly as images of civic disorder dominated newspapers like The Boston Globe. The press and political establishment largely framed the strike as an abdication of essential public duty and a potential catalyst for anarchy, linking it to contemporary fears of Bolshevik revolution. National figures, including President Woodrow Wilson, condemned the walkout as a "crime against civilization." This overwhelmingly negative reaction solidified political support for a uncompromising response and marginalized more sympathetic voices who argued for the officers' economic grievances.

Governor Calvin Coolidge's Role

Governor Calvin Coolidge's handling of the crisis defined his political career and launched him toward the Vice Presidency. While initially allowing Mayor Peters and Commissioner Curtis to manage the situation, Coolidge took decisive command once the Massachusetts National Guard was mobilized. His firm public statements, particularly his telegram to American Federation of Labor leader Samuel Gompers stating, "There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time," resonated powerfully across the nation. This principled, law-and-order stance made Coolidge a national hero, leading directly to his selection as the Republican vice-presidential nominee on the ticket with Warren G. Harding in the 1920 election. Category:1919 labor disputes and strikes Category:History of Boston Category:Calvin Coolidge Category:Police strikes in the United States