Montana labor news., 1935-01-10
AMERICAN LABOR
ADVANCES IN 1884

the year uOpGlul anu CNPNNtdAtS bANN
restless and dissatisfied with NRA,
found strike action still its 10 eff
fective weapon. Throughout the year
workers blood rose, boiled and much
was spilled-52 workers killed in in
dustrial combat. Incomplete returns
covering the first nine months Of the
year show 1,104 strikes-more than any
year since l92l-involving 100000
workers in almost every form OF trade,
industry and agriculture.
Crucial Day of the Year: May 81,
when 100000 textile and steel work
ers threatened to strike. Another
100000 workers, including gulf and
west coast longshoremen and all union
lists in Toledo, Minneapolis and San
Francisco were either or strike or pre-
pairing for strike that morning, a stu
alton unprecedented in U. S. history.
In addition, electrical workers had
Just issued an ultimatium threatening
to throw Ohio into darkness unless
their demands were granted. They
were granted 20 per cent pay rise,
union recognition.
1. INDUSTRY Highlights among
industrial struggles:
Year begins-January 2. SUI
union painters on government jobs in
Washington struck for union scale OF
$1.37 an hour. Significant of la
boris battle throughout 1884 for higher
wages on relief jobs and public works
projects.
Bloodiest strike was the September
textile walkout, No. l in magnitude,
reaching 100000 operatives. 1t was the
casts biggest battle of the year, with
10000 troops called out and 10 strikers
killed. Cotton, silk, rayon and hosiery
workers, all in one big union, struck
against the NRA setup in the textile
industry, against the stretchout, for the
30-hour week and union recognition.
Strike ended September q with report
of Roosevelt's Winant Board. Re
suits Establishment of Textile Labor
Board and subordinate boards to study
stretchout evil. Federal Trade Com
mission has been investigating finan-
cial setup in textiles; Department of
Labor has had 10 men in field sur
veying wage, hour, work-load condi-
tons.
Worthy Of Note: $4,000 silk and
rayon dyers, only United Textile
Workers affiliate not in September
strike, walked out later, pooh-poohed
Roosevelt truce proposal, refused ar
bitration, won Is per cent wage rise
36-hour week, virtual closed shop.
Most solid strike was on the west
coast where longshoremen struck
every port. All San Francisco unions
Joined in general strike July 10, com
pletely paralyzing the city. Militia
killed two workers, captured control,
but "bayonets load no boats" was the
stevedores' reply. The press concocted
lies, while public officials and business
men Joined hands to break the tieup.
In Seattle police led by Mayor Smith
rode horses into 1000 pickets, routing
them as in war. National Longshore-
mems Board established, workers re-
turned to work. Arbitration gave
strikers 30-hour week, 95 cents an hour,
partial control Of hiring halls. Other
unions also won important victories,
Tom MONEYS old enemy, the Market
Street Railway Co., being unionized as
a result.
Union hero Of 1884: Dick Parker,
20, shot to death by militia in San Pc
dro May IA, the day he joined long
shoremen's union.
Bitterest strike was in Minneapolis
where teamsters enforced their ulti-
matum "All trucks off the streets"
Strike was settled in May, flared up
again in summer heat, and in one
strikebreaking attempt Gully ~, SO
were wounded, one killed, whereupon
workers refused further parleys until
assured they would not be shot. Union
won guaranteed wage scale, right to
represent inside as well as outside
workers.
Note: Farmers cooperated by sup
plying food to strikers.
B~arricades were erected in Toledo
streets in May when workers we're be-
sieged by troops. Two were killed,
others shot and bayoneted, thousands
gassed. National Automobile Cham
Der Of Commerce and all auto kings
brought pressure on Auto-Lite Co. and
poured money into its Golfers to smash
the union as spearhead Of fight against
auto unions. Workers finally won 5
per cent pay rise, union recognition.
Note: Auto-Lite officials got first
joint injunction ever issued against a
union and an unemployed league.
Significant was Americas first news
mems strike: 40 men and women out
OF 81 on The Newark Ledger's edi-
torial staff struck in November. Re-
porters, photographers, feature writ
ers still picketing, learning meaning of
labor solidarity, as year ended. Dele
CATION from the lusty year-old Amer
lean Newspaper Guild, led by Hey
wood Broun, walked out OF a code
hearing on wages in December, charg-
ing "NRA is terrified by the publish
ers." Indignation grew against Don
aid Richberg for his high-handed re-
opening of Jennings case after Ma
tional Labor Relations Board had or
dered his reinstatement on The San
Francisco Call Bulletin.
Omit from 1884 list: Expected strike
in steel and auto industries, workers
being held off by boards and promises.
Autos; March q strike postponed by
presidential Intervention. -Four days
later president announced Settlement"
establishing Auto Labor Board and
proportional representation, legalizing
company unions. Famed merit
clause retained in code over labor
protest. Steel: Threatened June
ctr,La ca1tad off rubau Roosevelt an