Detailed Notes on the Seattle General Strike and Labor Movements

February 1919 and the Seattle General Strike

  • Context:

  • Occurred shortly after World War I ended in February 1919.

  • The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) leadership was imprisoned.

  • Initiation of the Strike:

  • Began with 35,000 shipyard workers striking for a wage increase.

  • Requested support from the Seattle Central Labor Council, leading to a city-wide strike recommendation.

  • 110 local unions voted to join the strike.

  • The strike officially started on February 6, 1919, at 10:00 A.M.

  • Participants:

  • Approximately 100,000 workers participated, including 60,000 union members and 40,000 sympathizers.

  • Tensions existed between IWW and American Federation of Labor (AFL) locals.

  • Japanese locals included in the General Strike Committee, although without voting rights.

  • Strike Organization:

  • General Strike Committee: Each striking local elected three members to serve on this committee.

  • Essential services maintained by strikers: firemen, hospital laundry handled by laundry workers.

  • Neighborhood milk stations and daily meals provided to participants at subsidized costs.

  • A Labor War Veteran's Guard was created to maintain order without violence.

  • Public Response:

  • Crime rates in Seattle decreased during the strike, demonstrating public order.

  • The U.S. Army commander noted the city was surprisingly orderly.

  • Cultural Reaction:

  • Poem in the Seattle Union Record highlighted the strikers' impact on societal norms and fears of disruption.

  • Government Response:

  • Seattle's mayor swore in 2,400 special deputies; military personnel were deployed.

  • Strike ended after five days due to pressure from union leaders and the practical difficulties in a shut-down city.

  • Aftermath:

  • Raids and arrests occurred post-strike targeting socialist and IWW organizations.

  • IWW members faced heavy criminalization, with many jailed as leaders of “anarchy.”

Postwar Labor Unrest and Radical Movements

  • Broader Context:

  • The Seattle General Strike occurred amid global tensions and labor unrest.

  • Rank-and-file revolts in various countries: Russia, Korea, India, and Labor issues in the U.S. disputes, like the miners’ collective actions.

  • Strikes in Other Regions:

  • 1919 saw 120,000 textile workers on strike in New England, with significant participation from other sectors.

  • The 1919 Steel Strike led by 100,000 workers against oppressive labor conditions; reports of violence against strikers escalated.

  • Socioeconomic Issues:

  • Post-war America witnessed inflation and worker resentment amidst profits mostly benefiting the few, intensifying class disparities.

  • Multiple strikes in various sectors like textiles continued into the early 1920s but were met with violence and repression.

  • 1920s Conditions:

  • Economic growth excluded vast populations; a wave of immigration laws aimed to restrict non-Anglo groups, promoting white supremacy.

  • Cultural movements like the Harlem Renaissance emerged amidst social inequalities.

  • The rise of social issues like race riots, poverty, and class struggles illustrated ongoing tensions.

The Great Depression and Labor Resistance

  • Stock Market Crash and its Effects:

  • The boom and subsequent crash in 1929 revealed deep-rooted economic issues: problematic corporate structures, wealth concentration, and bad income distribution.

  • Unemployment skyrocketed; many workers faced destitution and homelessness.

  • Worker Actions:

  • Self-help initiatives occurred nationwide, with unemployment councils forming to combat evictions and provide essential services.

  • Strikes became rampant across industries as economic conditions worsened.

  • Key Events:

  • Bonus Army march in 1932, where veterans protested for immediate payment of bonuses owed.

  • Hoover's administration responded violently to discontent, leading to loss of support for the Republican party.

  • Roosevelt’s New Deal Initiatives:

  • Aimed to revitalize the economy while channeling protests into more manageable reform efforts.

  • Programs through bodies like the National Recovery Administration (NRA) attempted to stabilize the economy but favored large corporations.

Labor Organizing and Growth of the CIO

  • Labor Union Evolutions:

  • Emergence of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in response to the need for industrial unionism beyond AFL craft lines.

  • Rank-and-file insurrections signified increasing discontent with union leadership, pushing for more radical approaches like sit-down strikes.

  • Radical Action and State Response:

  • Movements often met with police violence (e.g., Memorial Day Massacre) but resulted in increased public support for labor rights.

  • Labor struggles showcased the potential for collective action, with significant gains achieved for worker rights.

  • Long-Term Implications:

  • Improvements occurred amid ongoing tensions; significant legislation like the Wagner Act instituted labor rights protections.

  • However, the struggles of the 1930s also demonstrated cycles of repression and coopted organization by state mechanisms.