West Coast Longshoremen's Strike

Definition

The West Coast Longshoremen's Strike was a major labor dispute that took place in 1934, involving dockworkers (longshoremen) along the Pacific coast of the United States. This strike was a significant event during the Great Depression, as it highlighted the growing tensions between workers, employers, and the government over issues of wages, working conditions, and the right to unionize.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The West Coast Longshoremen's Strike began on May 9, 1934, as a protest against low wages, long hours, and poor working conditions for dock workers.
2. The strike involved over 12,000 longshoremen and quickly spread to other West Coast ports, effectively shutting down the entire Pacific coast shipping industry.
3. The strike was led by the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), which was seeking to gain recognition and bargaining rights for its members.
4. The strike was met with strong opposition from employers, who were supported by local and federal authorities, leading to violent clashes between strikers and police.
5. The strike was ultimately resolved on July 31, 1934, with the signing of the San Francisco Longshore Strike Settlement, which granted many of the workers' demands, including the right to unionize and bargain collectively.

Review Questions

• Explain the key factors that led to the West Coast Longshoremen's Strike and how it was connected to the Great Depression.
  • The West Coast Longshoremen's Strike was a response to the poor working conditions and low wages that many dock workers faced during the Great Depression. The strike was led by the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), which was seeking to gain recognition and bargaining rights for its members. The strike was also connected to the Great Depression in that it highlighted the growing tensions between workers, employers, and the government over issues of economic recovery and the role of labor unions. The strike's resolution, which granted many of the workers' demands, including the right to unionize, was seen as a significant victory for the labor movement during this period of economic hardship.
• Analyze the impact of the West Coast Longshoremen's Strike on the broader labor movement and its relationship to the New Deal policies of the time.
  • The West Coast Longshoremen's Strike had a significant impact on the broader labor movement in the United States. The strike's success in securing the right to unionize and bargain collectively for dock workers was seen as a major victory for the labor movement, which had been struggling to gain recognition and bargaining power during the Great Depression. The strike also highlighted the growing tensions between workers and employers, as well as the role of the government in mediating these conflicts. The strike's resolution was influenced by the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), a key New Deal policy that aimed to promote economic recovery by allowing industries to establish 'fair competition' codes, including the right of workers to unionize. The success of the strike and the government's response to it demonstrated the potential for labor unions to influence the direction of New Deal policies and the broader economic recovery efforts during the Great Depression.
• Evaluate the long-term significance of the West Coast Longshoremen's Strike in shaping the labor movement and its relationship to the federal government's role in regulating the economy.
  • The West Coast Longshoremen's Strike had lasting significance in shaping the labor movement and the federal government's role in regulating the economy. The strike's success in securing the right to unionize and bargain collectively for dock workers was a major victory for the labor movement, which had been struggling to gain recognition and bargaining power during the Great Depression. This victory helped to empower and embolden other workers to organize and advocate for their rights, leading to a resurgence of the labor movement in the years following the strike. The strike also highlighted the importance of the federal government's role in mediating labor-management conflicts and regulating the economy to promote economic recovery and social stability. The government's response to the strike, which included the use of force to suppress the strikers, as well as its ultimate resolution through the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), demonstrated the complex and often contentious relationship between labor, employers, and the government during the Great Depression. The long-term significance of the West Coast Longshoremen's Strike lies in its role in shaping the labor movement and the federal government's approach to regulating the economy, which would have lasting implications for decades to come.

Related terms

Longshoremen: Dock workers responsible for loading and unloading cargo from ships.

International Longshoremen's Association (ILA): The labor union representing longshoremen on the West Coast.

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA): A New Deal legislation that aimed to promote economic recovery by allowing industries to establish 'fair competition' codes, including the right of workers to unionize.