1916 Atlanta streetcar strike

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The Atlanta streetcar strike of 1916 was a

Georgia Railway and Power Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Precipitated by previous strike action by linemen
of Georgia Railway earlier that year, the strike began on September 30 and ended January 5 of the following year. The main goals of the strike included increased pay, shorter working hours, and union recognition. The strike ended with the operators receiving a wage increase, and subsequent strike action the following year lead to union recognition.

Background

The streetcar strike followed a previous labor dispute regarding

Atlanta Mayor James G. Woodward, where Woodward warned him that he would be arrested if a strike were to occur.[6][7]

Course of the strike

On September 30 at 6 pm, Teat called

blue-collar workers, the strike received a considerable degree of support from the general public.[5][10] In East Point, Georgia, a crowd of several hundred had formed to cheer as 16 cars were abandoned.[8] Georgia Railway had prepared for the strike by assembling 30 men[note 2] to take over, and within a few minutes of the strike's beginning, the streetcars in downtown were again running, though suburban routes, such as those in East Point and Fort McPherson, were not resumed.[8]

Following the commencement of the strike, large groups of spectators and strike supporters formed in downtown, with strikers yelling at passing streetcars and urging the operators to join the strike.

streetcar stop was torched, and there were many reports of strikers greasing tracks and damaging streetcars.[13] Dynamiting was reported in several cases, including an incident in which two women were severely injured.[15] However, there is debate as to who was responsible for the incidents of dynamite. Several streetcar operators, interviewed years after the strike, alleged that the company had placed dynamite on several streetcars and blamed the union.[15][16]

On October 2, a group of prominent Atlanta citizens held a meeting at the

Henry W. Grady statue,[7] on October 13, a pro-strike rally at the Municipal Auditorium was attended by approximately 8,500 people.[20] Among these supporters were local members of the Socialist Party of America.[21]

In November,

mistrial.[24] On January 5, 1917, the company agreed to a pay increase for the operators, but refused to rehire fired union members or recognize the union.[25][13] While this ended the strike, tensions between the union and company remained high for several months afterwards regarding the lack of union recognition, and on July 16, 1918, another strike commenced.[26] Lasting only four days, this subsequent strike ended with arbitration from the National War Labor Board and lead to the company agreeing to recognize the union.[26][27]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ One source mentions a walkout that occurred a day prior.[2]
  2. ^ One source gives this number as 300.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 439.
  2. ^ a b Martin 1976, p. 60.
  3. ^ a b Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 440.
  4. ^ Kuhn, Joye & West 1990, p. 14.
  5. ^ a b c Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 441.
  6. ^ Kemp 2002, p. 202.
  7. ^ a b Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 447.
  8. ^ a b c d e Garrett 1969, p. 687.
  9. ^ a b c d Kemp 2002, p. 203.
  10. ^ Kuhn, Joye & West 1990, pp. 14, 17.
  11. ^ a b Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 442.
  12. ^ Garrett 1969, p. 687–688.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Garrett 1969, p. 688.
  14. ^ Kemp 2002, pp. 202–203.
  15. ^ a b Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 443.
  16. ^ Kuhn, Joye & West 1990, pp. 17, 19.
  17. ^ Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 445.
  18. ^ Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 448.
  19. ^ Kuhn, Joye & West 1990, p. 17.
  20. ^ Kemp 2002, p. 208.
  21. ^ Martin 1976, p. 62.
  22. ^ Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 446.
  23. ^ Martin 1976, p. 64.
  24. ^ Kemp 2002, p. 211.
  25. ^ Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 450.
  26. ^ a b Scott & Guynn 2000, p. 452.
  27. ^ Garrett 1969, p. 689.

Bibliography

  • ISBN 978-0-8203-0264-5 – via Google Books
    .
  • Kemp, Kathryn W. (2002). God's Capitalist: Asa Candler of Coca-Cola.
    ISBN 978-0-86554-782-7 – via Google Books
    .
  • Kuhn, Clifford M.; Joye, Harlon E.; West, E. Bernard (1990). Living Atlanta: An Oral History of the City, 1914-1948.
    ISBN 978-0-8203-1697-0 – via Google Books
    .
  • Martin, Jean (Winter 1976). "Mule to Marta, Volume II, 1902–1950".
    Atlanta Historical Society: 1–208 – via Atlanta History Center.[permanent dead link
    ]
  • Scott, Carole E.; Guynn, Richard D. (Fall 2000). "The Atlanta Streetcar Strikes".
    JSTOR 40584340
    .
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