The Great Steel Strike
In 1919, it is estimated that a total of almost one-fifth of the nation’s industrial workforce walked away from their jobs. The Great Strike of 1919—as some historians have described it—was one of the largest strikes in American history. This began with the National Committee for Organizing the Iron and Steel Workers’ (NOISW) strike against the United States Steel Corporation. Over 350,000 U.S. steel workers walked off the job, demanding shorter work hours (at that time workers were typically working 10 to 12 hours a day) and recognition of their union.
The Great Strike was many years in the making as workers and unions struggled over labor rights throughout the early 20th century. After the 1916 Republic Tube Plant Strike in Youngstown, Ohio and a steel worker strike in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania four months later, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) sought to take advantage of the wartime conditions in order to expand its membership in the steel industry. Consequently, in August 1918, the AFL established the NOISW. That same year, President Woodrow Wilson—who was concerned about labor strikes impeding the production of military equipment and supplies—created the National Labor Board (NLB). The NLB recognized workers' rights to organize unions and bargain collectively. While some gains were made, the board was soon disbanded after World War I ended in 1918. Workers began to consider the option of a massive general strike as they were confronted with high rates of postwar inflation and the lack of a formal structure to mediate labor conflicts.
The Great Strike was many years in the making as workers and unions struggled over labor rights throughout the early 20th century. After the 1916 Republic Tube Plant Strike in Youngstown, Ohio and a steel worker strike in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania four months later, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) sought to take advantage of the wartime conditions in order to expand its membership in the steel industry. Consequently, in August 1918, the AFL established the NOISW. That same year, President Woodrow Wilson—who was concerned about labor strikes impeding the production of military equipment and supplies—created the National Labor Board (NLB). The NLB recognized workers' rights to organize unions and bargain collectively. While some gains were made, the board was soon disbanded after World War I ended in 1918. Workers began to consider the option of a massive general strike as they were confronted with high rates of postwar inflation and the lack of a formal structure to mediate labor conflicts.
Eventually, on September 22, 1919, the NOISW went ahead with a general strike. The September strike shut down half of the steel industry, including all of the steel mills in Chicago, Illinois, Youngstown, Ohio, Pueblo, Colorado, Wheeling, West Virginia, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Ohio, and Lackawanna, New York. The strikers were met with massive resistance from federal and state governments, and the United States Steel Corporation. Seizing upon the rise of anti-Communist sentiment, the United States Steel Corporation published materials that presented members of the NOISW as radical communists. Additionally, local police officers and the U.S. Army were called in to quell the strikes. Lastly, steel companies turned toward strikebreaking by employing almost 40,000 African American and Mexican American workers to replace the workers on strike. By December 1919 the number of strikers had dropped by two-thirds. Nevertheless, the representatives of the National Committee voted to continue the strike. By January 8, 1920, however, the strike remained effective in only a few places, so the committee voted to end the walkout.
Even though the strike ended, one positive development did emerge from the dispute. During the strike, the Inter-church World Movement, a Protestant group committed to the liberal ideas of the Social Gospel movement, began an investigation of the steel industry and the conditions that led to the strike. Their report, which was released on July 28, 1920, helped place further pressure on both Congress and the administration of President Warren Harding to end the 12-hour day once and for all. Although most of the steel industry, in particular Elbert Gary (founder of U.S. Steel), resisted the move, Gary eventually changed his mind after he received a personal letter from President Harding in 1923 that threatened the industry with legislation if it did not make this change on its own. This decision made the steel industry the last major industry in the United States to eliminate the 12-hour day.
