What was the “Big Strike?” Summary

Big Strike
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Big Strike
What was the “Big Strike?”
The ‘Big Strike’ is one of the largest strikes that was ever recorded in American history. This strike happened in the West Coast ports and lasted 83 days. On May 9th, 1934, longshoremen on the West Coast decided to down their tools and staged a walkout. The scene was quite unusual as this had never happened before, especially with all the longshoremen downing their tools at the same time. Every team involved refused to take part in their usual day-to-day activities. The unity with which the workers operated made it difficult for the strike to be squashed. The workers were armed with solidarity and demands for better working conditions. Also, the strikers were disciplined and steadfast as they faced an enemy with immeasurable power and influence. On the other hand, the employers were armed with the government’s National Guard, vigilantes, and their own private security forces. The powers of the two were unmatched, and (on paper) the employers did have the upper hand in trying to squash the strike. However, the resilience of the strikers persevered and toppled the employers.
The strike was without its fair share of issues and trouble. First, lives were lost, and many more injuries were reported. The strikers were involved in several physical confrontations with the police and private security officers. These claimed lives while also leaving many injured. The second thing that happened was that teamsters and other unions also joined in the strike, which increased the magnitude of the strike. The urgency to deal with the strike increased since the losses were piling. The Big Strike ended on July 31st when all the strikers decided to return to work. However, it did achieve a few things, including higher wages, sensible shift hours, and the end of discrimination, especially when it comes to hiring individuals with union membership. The show of power by the employees was quite evident, and the relationship between employers and employees was never the same after the strike.
What happened during some of the major events of the strike, including “Bloody Thursday” in San Francisco?
One major event that happened during this strike was the Assistant Secretary of Labor, Edward McGrady, trying to broker deals that never saw the light of day because the strikers rejected the agreements. McGrady negotiated two agreements on May 28th and on June 16th. However, both of these were rejected by the strikers. The other major event happened after the rejection of these two agreements. Physical confrontations took place between the strikers and the police. In one confrontation, famously known as the Bloody Thursday, things got out of hand as the scene became more violent than before. The police decided to use force to clear a certain area (Embarcadero), and things escalated fast. They injured many people and their actions led to the death of two people, namely Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise. Sperry was a longshoreman, while Bordoise was a man who shared in the sentiments of the longshoremen and sought for change on their behalf.
The other major event that happened during the strike and that showcased the strength ...