Evening star., 1946-12-03
Sentence Waits Until Tomorrow;
General Strike Cripples Oakland
Million Affected
AS Transport,
Industry HuIts
BY the Associated Press

general strike tied up this city
today as AFL trade unions
obeyed an order to ''pull every
thing in Oakland"
Transportation, except for mass
of private automobiles, was stilled.
Normal operation of industry
halted in the area OF 1000, 900 per-
sons. Newspapers ceased publica-
tion. Commuters-there are 100000
of them-either stayed at home or
were caught in the slow tide OF
private cars.
The strike, effective at 5 am. was
a retaliatory move by AFL unions
to Sundays police action in escort
ing nonunion trucks, laden with
merchandise, to two picketed de-
partment stores in downtown Oak
land. The unions insisted the truck
drivers were strikebreakers.
Order Charged to Leader.
Charles w. Real, president of the
AFL California Federation OF Labor
and head of the Bay District Coun-
Gil of Teamsters, was said by union
sources here to have given the
signal for the strike. He was in
Washington, D. c., on business
trip. Apprised of Sundays events,
his reply was quoted. Pull out
everything in Oakland
CONTACTED in Washington,
+ Mr.. Real said he is getting in
touch with California union Of
ficials in attempts to have the
general strike at Oakland called
off and settled peaceably."
(He disclaimed any responsible
ity for the strike, telling report
ers he had boarded a train
Thanksgiving Day to come to a
Labor Department conference
and "the whole situation has de-
veloped since then"
Says 1t Is All a Surprise.
&cThis is all quite a surprise
to me-" Mr.. real said. Il have
telephone calls in now trying to
find out who is responsible and
Ito see what possibilities there are
i oward calling of the strike and
having 1t settled peaceably.s
tThe AFL leader said neither
the State federation he heads
nor the Central Labor and Trades
Council could have called gen.
eral strike. He said it would re-
quire "joint acquiescence OF the
coal unions"
(His first inkling of general
strike came, Mr.. Real said, when
union officials telephoned him
last night that the Oakland
Union Councils were meeting to
consider a general walkout. He
said he has had no word since
then and only learned through
newsmen that the strike had
been called
Schools remained open, and Supt.
w. R. Odell said union maintenance
employees would be ON the job.
Some Drugstores Closed.
Some drugstores closed, but the
AFL Teamsters' Union, directing
strike strategy, said it had arranged
that certain registered pharmacists
remain on the job.
Cab drivers did not report for
work. AFL interurban bus drivers
did not pick up passengers in Oak
land City streetcars and buses did
not turn wheel.
Gasoline stations remained open,
but supplies were uncertain, as de-
livery trucks were not operating.
Bethlehem Shipyard said its Ala
media yard sis open for business, but
no one showed up" About 5000
employees are involved. The Moore
Drydock said no union people
showed up. 1t has 1000 employees.
Some restaurants were operating
mostly small ones-but most were
closed.
Newspapers Suspend Publication.
The Oakland Tribune and the
Oakland Post Enquirer announced
they would not publish, and the
nearby Alameda Times-Star also
decided to suspend after pickets,
showed up,
Macarthur boulevard, the main
artery to the Bay Bridge, was choked
by private cars en- route to San
Francisco There were periods this
morning when the line did not move
yard in five minutes. From East
Oakland, Is miles to San Francisco,
the cars were lined up solid four
abreast.
The Key System commuter trains,
which normally carry thousands to
work in San Francisco, remained in
their barns.
The bridge, normally a bottle
neck, WIS uncommonly free of trouble
as bridge authorities opened up the
bottom ''truck" deck, normally
closed to passenger cars.
Pickets Gather at Stores.
On Oakland main arteries the
general picture was of a big parking
lot trying to get into motion as a
unit.
AS the morning wore on, throngs
of pickets and spectators gathered
in front of the big Kahns Depart
ment Store and Hastings Store, in
Oakland's downtown triangle. It
was at these stores that the trouble
started Sunday.
Some fist fights developed. The
camera of news photographer was
smashed and he was buffeted.
Chief of Policee Robert Tracy said
(See OAKLAND, Page A-59
Late Bulletin