Today in labor history: Oakland general strike

Today in 1946 Oakland California women led a general strike that massed some 140,000 workers. The strike occurred after police attempted to break a picket line of retail workers. The 400 workers employed at 2 department stores went on strike after being refused the right to form a union. Workers were also outraged by police supported efforts to bring scab goods in by truck.

The general strike ended on December 5th after promises were made the cops would end the attempt to bring in scab goods. The retail workers won the right to form a union four months later.

Photo: http://libcom.org/library/oakland-general-strike-stan-weir

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People’s World is a voice for progressive change and socialism in the United States. It provides news and analysis of, by, and for the labor and democratic movements to our readers across the country and around the world. People’s World traces its lineage to the Daily Worker newspaper, founded by communists, socialists, union members, and other activists in Chicago in 1924.