The Nationwide Strike against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) begins today, calling for us to raise our voices and recognize our power. Rightfully fueled by the violence brought on by ICE agents across the nation, Americans are following the lead of those in Minneapolis.
People across the nation are being encouraged to stay home from work and school, and to refrain from spending. Restaurants, cafes, bookstores, and more have made posts on social media about closing in solidarity, and even CEOs of major publications are giving employees the option to take time off to participate.
As usual, however, some are asking for “the point” of national strikes, as if this were the first in history. Many don’t know that these events in the United States helped citizens demand better labor laws, civil rights, and improved livelihoods.
The Salad Bowl Strikes
The largest farm worker strike in US history happened in 1970. Organized by labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, the Salad Bowl Strikes (getting this name because the focus was on lettuce) was a national movement where between 5,000-10,000 predominantly Mexican-American workers walked off the job in demand of higher wages, union contracts, and an end to exploitative conditions like pesticide exposure and poor housing.
This event prompted industry-wide wage increases and encouraged union organizing rights and broader reforms. Including the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which enabled secret-ballot union elections.
Bread and Roses 1912
More officially known as the Lawrence Textile Strikes, these lasted eight weeks and were a protest against terrible working conditions and a significant pay cut. It was led by immigrant women in Lawrence, Massachusetts, who were deemed too “unskilled” or “not smart enough” to organize anything. Yet, thousands of workers engaged in a well-organized and successful walkout, and workers even maintained soup kitchens and nurseries for each other’s children.
Meetings were simultaneously translated into nearly 30 languages! The protest became violent when police and outside militia became involved. Grabbing women by their hair as their children watched, and even killing protestors. The violence is what made the federal government get involved. In the end, Mill owners agreed to a 15% wage hike, increased overtime pay, and a promise not to retaliate against strikers.
The 1917 Twin Cities Streetcar Strike
Minnesota is not new to speaking up for what’s right. Unfair working conditions for streetcar drivers and the disrespect shown to their newly formed union prompted this strike. Major employers in Minneapolis created the Citizens Alliance to squash any unions formed by the working class. However, when you have employees working in dangerous conditions for 16 hours a day and only paying them for 10. That’s enough reason for people to come together and strike.
While the workers in St. Paul began negotiations with owners after the streetcars were shut down, the Minneapolis employers sent out strikebreakers called the Home Guard, armed and ready to fight, backed by legislation from President Wilson due to the demands of World War I. Causing more violence to break out in the streets of Minneapolis. This strike gained national attention and raised awareness of workers’ right to organize and form unions.
While some may gather today to question the validity of a call for a national strike, others are putting in as much effort and bravery as those in early US history. The effort and bravery that protect us today. We may not know the outcome of every strike that will occur in modern times, but we do know that staying silent is almost like giving your oppressor a permission slip to continue stomping on your rights and those of others. Learn more about today’s national strike and how you can participate here.
