1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike

1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike
Name	1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike
Date	May 16, 1934 - August 21, 1934
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota

Contents

1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike was a pivotal labor dispute in the United States, involving the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and Coalition of Labor Union members, including American Federation of Labor (AFL) affiliates, against major trucking companies in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The strike, led by Trotskyist and Communist Party USA-aligned organizers, such as Vincent Raymond Dunne and Carl Skoglund, drew support from various labor unions, including the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Key events, including the Battle of Deputies Run, were influenced by the involvement of Farmer–Labor Party politicians, such as Floyd Bjornstjerne Olson, and the National Guard.

Background

The 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike occurred amidst the Great Depression, with widespread unemployment and poverty affecting Minneapolis and the broader United States. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) were actively organizing workers, including those in the transportation and trucking industries, such as Overland Transport, Northwestern Trucking Company, and Minneapolis Truckers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), led by Daniel J. Tobin, was a key player in the strike, with local leaders like William Brown and Ray Dunne playing important roles. The strike was also influenced by the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Workers Party, with figures like James P. Cannon and Max Shachtman contributing to the movement.

The strike was sparked by a combination of factors, including low wages, poor working conditions, and the lack of collective bargaining rights for truck drivers and warehouse workers. The trucking industry in Minneapolis was dominated by large companies, such as Coca-Cola and General Motors, which resisted unionization efforts. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and other labor unions, including the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA), sought to improve working conditions and secure better wages and benefits for their members. Key figures, such as John L. Lewis and Sidney Hillman, played important roles in shaping the strike, drawing on their experiences in the United Mine Workers of America and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.

The strike began on May 16, 1934, with a walkout by Teamsters and other labor union members, including those from the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). The strike was marked by violent clashes between striking workers and strikebreakers, as well as police and National Guard units, such as during the Battle of Deputies Run. The strike drew support from a range of labor unions and political organizations, including the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Workers Party, with figures like Earl Browder and James P. Cannon contributing to the movement. The strike also received support from Farmer–Labor Party politicians, such as Floyd Bjornstjerne Olson, and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) leaders, like Roger Baldwin.

The strike ended on August 21, 1934, with a negotiated settlement that improved wages and working conditions for truck drivers and warehouse workers. The strike was seen as a major victory for the labor movement in the United States, with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and other labor unions gaining increased recognition and influence. The strike also contributed to the growth of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the United Auto Workers (UAW), with leaders like Walter Reuther and Philip Murray drawing on the lessons of the strike. The strike's legacy can be seen in the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and protected the right to collective bargaining, as well as in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which established minimum wage and overtime protections for workers.

Key figures in the 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike included Vincent Raymond Dunne, Carl Skoglund, and William Brown, who played important roles in organizing the strike and negotiating with trucking companies. Other key figures, such as Daniel J. Tobin, John L. Lewis, and Sidney Hillman, contributed to the strike through their leadership in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and other labor unions. The strike also drew support from politicians, such as Floyd Bjornstjerne Olson, and activists, like Roger Baldwin and Norman Thomas, who were involved in the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Socialist Party of America. Additionally, figures like James P. Cannon and Max Shachtman played important roles in shaping the strike, drawing on their experiences in the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Workers Party. Category:Labor disputes in the United States