Daily Worker archives: The San Francisco General Strike of 1934

July 16 marks the anniversary of the San Francisco General Strike, one of the most pivotal labor uprisings in American history. It grew out of a West Coast waterfront strike that began on May 9, 1934, when longshoremen walked off the docks up and down the coast, demanding union recognition and an end to the corrupt “shape-up” hiring system that left workers at the mercy of favoritism and bribery on the docks. Led by the rank-and-file militant Harry Bridges, the longshoremen held firm for weeks against employer resistance.

Tensions exploded on July 5, 1934, “Bloody Thursday,” when San Francisco police fired on strikers and their supporters, killing two men and wounding many more. In response, the San Francisco Labor Council voted to call a general strike in solidarity with the dockworkers. On July 16, 1934, some 125,000 to 150,000 workers across San Francisco and the greater Bay Area walked off their jobs, shutting down the city for four days.

Facing red-baiting and pressure from conservative leaders eager to end the standoff, the strike committee called off the general strike on July 19, after four days. But the longshoremen and seamen stayed out, and that October an arbitration board handed them a landmark victory: union-controlled hiring halls and higher wages, breaking the employers’ grip on the waterfront and paving the way for the Bridges-led International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

The struggle remains one of only a handful of general strikes in U.S. history.

Below, we proudly present an original news dispatch from our archives, published in the Daily Worker on that very day, July 16, 1934. The Daily Worker was the predecessor of People’s World, and these pages capture, in real time, how the labor press covered one of the great working-class mobilizations of the 20th century.

 

General Strike Sweeps Frisco

Daily Worker

July 16, 1934

SAN FRANCISCO, July 15.—The entire Golden Gate area will be in the grip of a general strike at 8 o’clock Monday morning.

Following the walk-out of thousands of workers in many trades here during the last few days, the street railway workers struck today, giving the general strike movement a powerful forward sweep.

The general strike was decided upon at a meeting of representatives of 125,000 San Francisco workers yesterday. Responding with overwhelming power to the militant fight of the embattled longshoremen, the workers of every organized industry forced through their determination to fight it out side by side with the dock workers by a vote of 89 for, and only 3 against.

The motion that all come out on strike on Monday morning was made by Harry Bridges, militant longshore strikers’ leader.

Meanwhile, with many unions already out in full force, the entire city was strangely quiet today. Lack of gasoline tied up normal automobile traffic. Restaurants were closing as 6,000 cooks, waiters, and culinary workers voted to strike tomorrow morning. Over 3,000 ice-men and almost 2,000 retail butchers today also voted to quit work tomorrow morning.

The general strike will not be limited to San Francisco, but to the entire Bay region. It will affect the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Alameda, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Mateo, Sausalito, San Rafael, and other towns along San Francisco and San Pedro Bays.

Oakland workers are expected to walk out at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

The call for the San Francisco strike vote conference was issued to the locals on Friday night. Each union was instructed to send five delegates. All of these delegations were hand-picked, either members of the executive committees or officials, as the locals had no chance to meet.

Reactionary Move

This move was put through by the reactionaries, who feared the election of a militant strike committee. Of the locals represented, 69 voted to strike, and only three against. Forty-nine other locals reported that they had not yet been instructed by their memberships to vote, but they decided to go in answer to the general call. All locals were instructed to meet immediately if necessary to take the strike vote, and to elect five delegates apiece for a meeting at 10 a.m., Monday, when it is promised that a strike committee can be voted for.

The meeting of the conference yesterday was one of the stormiest ever witnessed here. At least 700 delegates were in the hall, with thousands of workers outside of the Labor Temple, shouting for the general strike. All efforts for postponements were defeated.

The motion of Bridges that all go out on strike on Monday morning was passed overwhelmingly. In the election of officers of the strike committee all those chosen by the small body were reactionaries. Edward D. Vandeleur, chairman, had been working for “peaceful arbitration.” C. W. Deal of the Ferryboat Men’s Union, was elected vice-president by a close vote over Harry Bridges. Kidwell was chosen secretary. Bridges, however, was elected to the general strike committee. All three of these officers have consistently been opposed to the general strike, but were forced by the sentiment of the workers to vote in favor of it. Throughout the meeting, storms of boos greeted the reactionaries, in contrast to the wild cheers for Bridges.

In addition to the 125,000 organized workers who will go out on strike, the general walkout will affect thousands of other unorganized non-union workers.

The thousands of workers who flocked to the American Federation of Labor unions were so powerful in their strike sentiment that not one union voted against the walkout. The Labor Council on Friday night read a telegram from William Green, president of the A. F. of L., similar to the one sent to Seattle. Thereupon the fakers, facing a unanimous demand for the strike, decided to shift technical responsibility, although at the same time holding on to the leadership. They could not, however, avoid the strike, since at the same meeting locals totalling about 10,000 members, in addition to the 14,000 already out, reported that they were coming out anyway before Monday.

The same sentiment prevailed in Oakland.

Before the action of the conference was taken, the Market Street Railway men voted to strike at two o’clock Sunday morning. They have won their own demands. It is reported that the Municipal car men will follow, making the streetcar tie-up complete.

Those who voted for strike prior to decision are: 6,000 culinary workers, 1,200 laundry drivers, retail butchers, and many hundreds in smaller trades and crafts.

Mayor Rossi of San Francisco, in a vicious radio address, virtually promised martial law in the city, and ordered 500 additional policemen on duty. Every likelihood exists that regular army troops will be sent to the scene.

Paralysis is creeping through the city. Few vehicles are on the streets, as the gas supply is practically exhausted. Stores are running short of food supplies.

A statement issued by the Communist Party here denounces the strike committee officers and the executive committee of 25 picked by Chairman Vandeleur. This statement calls for the election of rank and file delegations at tomorrow’s conference, and to effect a change in the leadership, bringing it under the leadership of the rank and file workers. The Communist Party warns against provocation and the possibility that Roosevelt will come here personally in an arbitration move. It appeals also that the food problem for the workers be solved by proper distribution, by fighting against profiteering.

Portland, Oregon also has reported that it will meet on Monday to decide upon its participation in the general strike. The Los Angeles Central Labor Union has thus far confined its aid to finances. The likelihood of a general walkout is strong in San Pedro.

President Roosevelt’s trip to Hawaii has been cancelled, it is known, and he is undoubtedly coming here to intervene personally in the strike situation.

The solidarity and spirit of all the people here in favor of the strike is unprecedented in the country. The prestige of the Communist Party here, which took a leading part in the organization and preparation of the general strike, is tremendous.

Provocations against the workers are undoubtedly brewing, as the entire capitalist press featured a story about an alleged Communist march on San Francisco to “blow up bridges,” etc., as well as other incendiary anti-working class stories.

We hope you appreciated this article. At People’s World, we believe news and information should be free and accessible to all, but we need your help. Our journalism is free of corporate influence and paywalls because we are totally reader-supported. Only you, our readers and supporters, make this possible. If you enjoy reading People’s World and the stories we bring you, please support our work by donating or becoming a monthly sustainer today. Thank you!