Oakland general strike of 1946

Oakland general strike of 1946 was a major labor action that took place in Oakland, California in December 1946, involving over 100,000 workers from various AFL-CIO unions, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and United Auto Workers. The strike was led by C.L. Dellums, a prominent African American labor leader, and supported by Harry Bridges, the leader of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The strike was also influenced by the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor, which had recently merged to form the AFL-CIO.

Background

The Oakland general strike of 1946 occurred in the context of a broader wave of labor unrest in the United States following World War II, with major strikes taking place in Detroit, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and New York City. The strike was also influenced by the Taft-Hartley Act, which had been passed earlier in 1946 and restricted the power of labor unions. Robert A. Taft and Fred A. Hartley Jr. were key figures in the passage of this act, which was opposed by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. The Oakland, California labor movement was also influenced by the San Francisco General Strike of 1934, which had been led by Harry Bridges and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

Causes of the Strike

The strike was sparked by a dispute between AFL-CIO unions and the Oakland City Council over the city's Oakland Police Department and its treatment of labor activists. The unions were also seeking better wages and working conditions for their members, who were largely African American and Latino workers. C.L. Dellums and other labor leaders were influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and the NAACP, and saw the strike as an opportunity to address issues of racial and economic justice. The strike was also supported by left-wing organizations, including the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Party of America, which had a significant presence in the Bay Area.

The Strike

The strike began on December 1, 1946, and lasted for two days, with over 100,000 workers participating. The strike was marked by mass rallies and demonstrations, including a major rally at the Oakland Auditorium featuring speeches by C.L. Dellums and Harry Bridges. The strike was also supported by Women's Trade Union League and the National Negro Congress, which had a significant presence in the African American community. The strike was largely peaceful, but there were some incidents of violence and clashes between strikers and Oakland Police Department officers. The strike was covered extensively in the media, including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Oakland Tribune, which provided detailed accounts of the strike and its leaders.

Aftermath

The strike ended on December 3, 1946, with the city agreeing to some of the union's demands, including better wages and working conditions for city employees. The strike was seen as a major victory for the labor movement, and helped to establish C.L. Dellums as a prominent labor leader. The strike also had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement, with many African American leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, drawing inspiration from the strike. The strike was also studied by labor leaders and scholars, including John L. Lewis and C. Wright Mills, who saw it as an example of the power of labor activism.

Legacy

The Oakland general strike of 1946 is remembered as a major milestone in the history of the labor movement in the United States. The strike helped to establish Oakland, California as a hub of labor activism, and paved the way for future labor actions, including the Watts riots and the Chicano Movement. The strike is also remembered as an important moment in the Civil Rights Movement, with many African American leaders drawing inspiration from the strike. The strike has been studied by scholars, including Eric Hobsbawm and Howard Zinn, who have written extensively about its significance. The strike is also commemorated by the AFL-CIO and other labor organizations, which see it as an important part of their history and legacy. Category:Labor disputes in the United States