Steel Strike of 1919

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Steel Strike of 1919. The Steel Strike of 1919 was a labor strike that took place in the United States, involving over 350,000 workers from the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), with support from Eugene V. Debs and the Socialist Party of America. The strike was led by John Fitzpatrick and William Z. Foster, who were influenced by the Russian Revolution and the Lawrence Textile Strike. The strike aimed to improve working conditions, increase wages, and reduce working hours, with inspiration from the Haymarket affair and the Pullman Strike.

Background

The Steel Strike of 1919 was preceded by a series of labor disputes and strikes in the United States, including the West Virginia Coal Strike and the Seattle General Strike, which were influenced by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Wobblies. The strike was also influenced by the World War I and the subsequent Red Summer, which saw a rise in labor unrest and racial tensions, with notable events such as the Chicago Race Riot and the Tulsa Riot. The United States Department of Labor and the National War Labor Board attempted to mediate the dispute, but their efforts were unsuccessful, leading to the involvement of A. Mitchell Palmer and the United States Department of Justice. The strike was supported by various organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which were founded by Crystal Eastman and W.E.B. Du Bois, respectively.

The causes of the Steel Strike of 1919 were multifaceted, involving issues such as low wages, long working hours, and poor working conditions, which were exacerbated by the Influenza Pandemic and the subsequent Depression of 1920–1921. The strike was also driven by the desire for union recognition and collective bargaining, with inspiration from the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Bisbee Deportation. The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) played a significant role in the strike, with leaders such as Mary Harris Jones and Daniel J. Tobin providing support. The strike was influenced by the Sacco and Vanzetti case and the Palmer Raids, which highlighted the tensions between labor and capital, with notable figures such as Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman being involved.

The Steel Strike of 1919 began on September 22, 1919, and lasted for over four months, with workers from U.S. Steel and other steel companies participating, including those from Gary, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Chicago, Illinois. The strike was marked by violence and repression, with the National Guard and private security forces being deployed to break the strike, leading to events such as the Gary Strike and the Boston Police Strike. The strike was supported by various organizations, including the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Labor Party of America, which were founded by Jay Lovestone and Daniel De Leon, respectively. The strike was influenced by the Russian Revolution and the Spartacist Uprising, with notable figures such as Vladimir Lenin and Rosa Luxemburg being involved.

The Steel Strike of 1919 ended in defeat for the workers, with many being arrested, deported, or blacklisted, including notable figures such as William Z. Foster and Eugene V. Debs. The strike marked a significant turning point in the labor movement, with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) emerging as major forces, with leaders such as Samuel Gompers and John L. Lewis providing direction. The strike influenced the Wagner Act and the National Labor Relations Act, which were signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, respectively. The strike is remembered as a significant event in the history of the American labor movement, with notable historians such as Herbert Gutman and David Montgomery writing about the strike.

The Steel Strike of 1919 involved many key figures, including John Fitzpatrick, William Z. Foster, and Eugene V. Debs, who were influenced by the Russian Revolution and the Lawrence Textile Strike. Other notable figures involved in the strike included A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and Norman Thomas, who were influenced by the Socialist Party of America and the Communist Party USA. The strike was also influenced by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Wobblies, with notable figures such as Big Bill Haywood and Mary Harris Jones being involved. The strike marked a significant moment in the careers of many labor leaders, including Walter Reuther and George Meany, who went on to play important roles in the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and the AFL-CIO, respectively.