Seattle General Strike

Seattle General Strike. The Seattle General Strike was a landmark labor action that took place in Seattle, Washington, from February 6 to February 11, 1919, involving over 65,000 workers from more than 110 local AFL unions, including the Seattle Central Labor Council, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and Industrial Workers of the World. This strike was one of the first general strikes in the United States, following the example of the Lawrence Textile Strike and preceding the Boston Police Strike. The strike was supported by notable figures such as Eugene Debs, Big Bill Haywood, and Mary Harris Jones.

Background

The Seattle General Strike occurred in the aftermath of World War I, a time of great social and economic change in the United States. The war had created a massive demand for shipbuilding, with Seattle becoming a major hub for the industry, attracting workers from all over the country, including International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Mine Workers of America. The city's population swelled, and with it, the growth of labor unions such as the American Federation of Labor and the Industrial Workers of the World. The Seattle Central Labor Council, led by figures like Anna Louise Strong and Harry Ault, played a crucial role in organizing the strike, which was also influenced by the Russian Revolution and the Spartacist Uprising. Other key players included the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Causes of the Strike

The immediate cause of the Seattle General Strike was a dispute between shipyard workers, represented by the Metal Trades Council, and the Emergency Fleet Corporation, a federal agency responsible for overseeing the shipbuilding industry, which had ties to the United States Department of Labor and the National War Labor Board. The workers, who were members of unions such as the International Association of Machinists and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America, demanded higher wages and better working conditions, similar to those achieved by workers in the Lawrence Textile Strike and the West Virginia Coal Strike. The strike was also motivated by a desire to protest the Red Scare and the persecution of socialists and anarchists, including Eugene Debs and Emma Goldman, and to show solidarity with other labor movements, such as the Boston Police Strike and the Winnipeg General Strike.

The Strike

The Seattle General Strike began on February 6, 1919, with over 65,000 workers walking off their jobs, including members of the Teamsters, Longshoremen, and Carpenters. The strike was remarkably peaceful, with no major incidents of violence reported, thanks in part to the efforts of the Seattle Central Labor Council and the Industrial Workers of the World. The strikers established a network of soup kitchens and other support services, with the help of organizations like the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. The strike was widely supported by the community, with many small businesses and cooperatives remaining open, including those affiliated with the National Cooperative Business Association and the Consumer Cooperative Management Association. The strike also received support from notable figures such as Helen Keller, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens.

Aftermath

The Seattle General Strike ended on February 11, 1919, after five days, with the workers returning to their jobs without achieving their main demands, but with a sense of solidarity and accomplishment, similar to the outcome of the Lawrence Textile Strike and the West Virginia Coal Strike. The strike had a significant impact on the labor movement, inspiring similar actions in other cities, such as the Winnipeg General Strike and the San Francisco General Strike, and contributing to the growth of the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor. The strike also led to increased repression of labor activists, with many leaders, including Anna Louise Strong and Harry Ault, facing persecution and blacklisting, similar to the experiences of Eugene Debs and Big Bill Haywood.

Legacy

The Seattle General Strike is remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of the American labor movement, inspiring generations of workers and activists, including those involved in the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-War Movement, and influencing the development of socialism and anarchism in the United States. The strike is often cited as an example of the power of direct action and solidarity, and its legacy continues to be felt in the city of Seattle, with many labor unions and community organizations still active today, including the Seattle Central Labor Council and the Industrial Workers of the World. The strike has also been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including works by Studs Terkel and Howard Zinn, and has been recognized by the National Labor Relations Board and the AFL-CIO. Category:Labor disputes in the United States