The Last Great Strike: A Pivotal Moment in American Labor History

The Last Great Strike of 1922 was a defining moment in the history of the American labor movement. Nearly two million workers from 16 railroad unions walked off the job, demanding higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions. The strike lasted for over two months and paralyzed the nation's rail system, causing widespread economic disruption and public unrest.

Causes of the Strike

The immediate cause of the strike was a wage dispute between the railroad unions and the railroad companies. The unions were demanding a 15% wage increase, while the companies were offering only a 6% increase. However, the deeper causes of the strike lay in the long-standing grievances of railroad workers, who had been working long hours for low pay under dangerous conditions.

The Last Great Strike: Little Steel, the CIO, and the Struggle for Labor Rights in New Deal America

by Kiiro Yumi

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9405 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	411 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

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Railroad workers had been organizing unions since the 1860s, but they had made little progress in improving their working conditions. The railroad companies were powerful and often hostile to unions. They frequently hired strikebreakers to crush union organizing drives and used their political influence to pass laws that restricted union activities.

By 1922, railroad workers were fed up with the status quo. They were determined to strike to win the wages, hours, and working conditions that they deserved.

Course of the Strike

The strike began on July 1, 1922, when the unions walked off the job. The railroads were caught off guard by the strike, and the nation's rail system quickly ground to a halt.

The railroad companies responded to the strike by hiring strikebreakers and using violence to intimidate strikers. They also lobbied the government to intervene on their behalf.

President Warren G. Harding initially tried to mediate the dispute, but he was unable to resolve the conflict. He eventually sent federal troops to break up the strike and escort strikebreakers to work.

The strike ended on September 1, 1922, when the unions agreed to accept a 12% wage increase, a 9-hour workday, and other concessions. However, the strike had a lasting impact on the American labor movement.

Consequences of the Strike

The Last Great Strike was a major defeat for the American labor movement. The unions were unable to win all of their demands, and the strikebreaking tactics used by the railroad companies weakened the power of unions.

However, the strike also raised public awareness of the plight of railroad workers and helped to spur the passage of new laws that protected union rights. The strike also helped to build solidarity among the nation's labor unions, and it laid the groundwork for future victories in the labor movement.

The Last Great Strike was a pivotal moment in American labor history. It was a defeat for the labor movement, but it also helped to galvanize the movement and led to new laws that protected union rights. The strike is a reminder of the importance of collective bargaining and the struggle for workers' rights.

The Last Great Strike: Little Steel, the CIO, and the Struggle for Labor Rights in New Deal America

by Kiiro Yumi

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9405 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	411 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE