West Coast waterfront strike

West Coast waterfront strike. The West Coast waterfront strike, also known as the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike, was a major labor strike that took place in 1934, involving longshoremen and seamen from San Diego to Seattle. The strike was led by the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the Marine Workers Industrial Union (MWIU), with support from the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Key figures such as Harry Bridges, Louis Goldblatt, and Sam Darcy played important roles in the strike, which was influenced by events like the Great Depression and the National Industrial Recovery Act.

● Introduction

The West Coast waterfront strike was a pivotal moment in American labor history, marked by clashes between workers and shipping companies such as the Matson Navigation Company and the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. The strike drew support from other unions like the International Seamen's Union (ISU) and the Sailors' Union of the Pacific (SUP), as well as from communist and socialist organizations like the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Party of America. The strike's impact was felt across the United States, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) taking notice. The strike also drew comparisons to other major labor disputes, such as the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Bisbee Deportation.

● Causes of

the Strike The strike was sparked by a combination of factors, including low wages, poor working conditions, and the open shop system, which allowed non-union workers to work on the docks. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) had been trying to negotiate better working conditions and higher wages with the Waterfront Employers Union (WEU) for several years, but to no avail. The situation was further complicated by the presence of company unions and the National Recovery Administration's (NRA) codes of fair competition, which were seen as favoring employers over employees. Key figures like Harry Bridges and Louis Goldblatt were influenced by the ideas of Syndicalism and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), which emphasized the importance of direct action and worker solidarity. The strike was also influenced by events like the Bonus Army march and the Detroit Newspaper Strike.

● Course of

the Strike The strike began on May 9, 1934, with longshoremen and seamen walking off the job in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and other West Coast ports. The strike quickly spread to other ports, including Seattle, Portland, and San Diego. The strike was marked by violent clashes between picketing workers and strikebreakers, as well as between workers and police. The National Guard was called in to quell the violence, and several workers were killed or injured. The strike was supported by other unions and community organizations, including the San Francisco Labor Council and the California State Federation of Labor. Key figures like Sam Darcy and Harry Bridges played important roles in organizing the strike and negotiating with employers. The strike was also influenced by events like the Toledo Auto-Lite strike and the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike.

● Aftermath and Legacy

The strike ended on July 31, 1934, with the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement that established the closed shop system and provided for significant wage increases and improved working conditions. The strike was seen as a major victory for labor unions and marked a turning point in the American labor movement. The strike's legacy can be seen in the establishment of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which protected the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining. The strike also influenced the development of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and paved the way for future labor struggles, including the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike and the Steelworkers Strike. Key figures like Harry Bridges and Louis Goldblatt went on to play important roles in the labor movement, and the strike remains an important part of American history, alongside events like the Haymarket affair and the Lawrence Textile Strike.

● Key Figures and Organizations

The West Coast waterfront strike involved a number of key figures and organizations, including Harry Bridges, Louis Goldblatt, and Sam Darcy, who played important roles in organizing and leading the strike. The strike was supported by unions like the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), the Marine Workers Industrial Union (MWIU), and the Sailors' Union of the Pacific (SUP), as well as by community organizations like the San Francisco Labor Council and the California State Federation of Labor. The strike was also influenced by communist and socialist organizations like the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Party of America, and by events like the Russian Revolution and the Spanish Civil War. Other key figures involved in the strike included Joseph Ryan, Paddy Morris, and Mike Quin, who played important roles in negotiating with employers and organizing worker solidarity. The strike's legacy can be seen in the work of organizations like the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Federation, and in the continued struggle for workers' rights in the United States and around the world, including the Wobblies and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).