New York City garment workers' strike of 1919

New York City garment workers' strike of 1919 was a major labor dispute that involved over 60,000 garment workers in New York City, including those from the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA), who were demanding better working conditions, higher wages, and shorter working hours, similar to those achieved by workers in the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Bread and Roses Strike. The strike was supported by prominent labor leaders, including Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Eugene Debs of the Socialist Party of America. The strike also drew attention from notable figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Emma Goldman, who were all involved in the broader labor movement, including the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Background

The New York City garment industry was one of the largest and most profitable in the United States, with thousands of workers employed in sweatshops and factories, including those owned by Triangle Shirtwaist Company and Leiserson's. However, workers in the industry faced poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages, similar to those experienced by workers in the coal mining and steel industry. The industry was also marked by a lack of labor unions and collective bargaining, which made it difficult for workers to negotiate for better wages and working conditions, as seen in the Homestead Strike and the Pullman Strike. The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) were two of the main labor unions that represented garment workers in New York City, and they played a key role in organizing the strike, along with other unions, such as the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

Causes of the Strike

The causes of the strike were varied, but some of the main factors included the desire for better working conditions, higher wages, and shorter working hours, as well as the need for greater job security and benefits, similar to those achieved by workers in the Ford Motor Company and the General Motors strikes. Garment workers in New York City were also inspired by the success of other labor strikes, such as the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Bread and Roses Strike, which were led by labor leaders, including Mary Harris Jones and Big Bill Haywood. The strike was also influenced by the broader labor movement, including the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Socialist Party of America, which were led by figures, such as Eugene Debs and Daniel De Leon. The Russian Revolution and the Spartacist Uprising also had an impact on the strike, as they inspired workers to take action and demand better working conditions, as seen in the Seattle General Strike and the Winnipeg General Strike.

The Strike

The strike began in February 1919 and lasted for several months, with over 60,000 garment workers participating, including those from the ILGWU and the ACWA. The strike was marked by picketing, demonstrations, and clashes with police, similar to those seen in the Haymarket Riot and the Bonus Army march. The strike also drew attention from prominent labor leaders, including Samuel Gompers of the AFL and John L. Lewis of the UMWA, who were involved in the broader labor movement, including the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the National Labor Relations Act. The strike was eventually settled in September 1919, with garment workers winning significant concessions, including higher wages and better working conditions, similar to those achieved by workers in the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) strikes.

Aftermath and Legacy

The strike had a significant impact on the garment industry in New York City, leading to improved working conditions and higher wages for garment workers, similar to those achieved by workers in the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA) and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) strikes. The strike also helped to establish the ILGWU and the ACWA as major labor unions in the industry, and it paved the way for future labor strikes and organizing efforts, including the Woolworth's strike and the Kohler strike. The strike is also remembered as an important moment in the history of the labor movement in the United States, and it is often cited as an example of the power of collective action and worker solidarity, similar to the Flint sit-down strike and the Memphis sanitation strike. The strike has been commemorated by labor historians, including Herbert Gutman and David Montgomery, and it has been recognized by labor organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Federation.

Key Figures

Some of the key figures involved in the strike included Samuel Gompers of the AFL, Eugene Debs of the Socialist Party of America, and John L. Lewis of the UMWA, who were all prominent labor leaders, as well as Mary Harris Jones and Big Bill Haywood, who were involved in the broader labor movement, including the IWW and the CIO. Other notable figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Emma Goldman, also played a role in the strike, as they were involved in the broader labor movement, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The strike also involved many lesser-known figures, including garment workers and labor organizers, such as Clara Lemlich and Pauline Newman, who were involved in the ILGWU and the ACWA, and who played a key role in organizing the strike, along with other unions, such as the United Textile Workers of America (UTWA) and the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (IUMMSW).