Over five million American workers engage in strikes in the year after V-J Day - the largest strike wave in U.S. history and the closest thing to a national general strike of the 20th century. Workers demand wages to match 16% inflation while their pay rises only 7%. Major strikes include 750,000 …
United Auto WorkersUnited Mine WorkersUnited Steel WorkersWalter ReutherJohn L. Lewis+1 morelabor-organizingstrikescorporate-powerpostwar-economyunion-rights
President Roosevelt issues Executive Order 9328, the “Hold the Line Order,” on April 8, 1943, directing the National War Labor Board to prohibit any further wage increases except to correct substandard conditions or inequities. The order freezes wages for most workers while corporate …
Franklin D. RooseveltNational War Labor BoardOffice of Price AdministrationAFLCIO+1 morewage-suppressionlabor-policywartime-controlsclass-warfareeconomic-inequality
The “Little Steel” strike begins on May 26, 1937, when 75,000 steelworkers walk off their jobs at Republic Steel, Bethlehem Steel, Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and Inland Steel after these companies refuse to sign contracts with the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) despite the …
Republic SteelTom GirdlerBethlehem SteelYoungstown Sheet and TubeInland Steel+3 morelabor-rightscorporate-resistancewagner-actstrikeunion-organizing+1 more
On November 9, 1935, John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers met with leaders of eight unions—including Sidney Hillman of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers and David Dubinsky of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union—to formally establish the Committee for Industrial Organization within the …
John L. LewisUnited Mine Workers of AmericaSidney HillmanDavid DubinskyPhilip Murraylabor-organizingdemocratic-resistanceworker-power