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Homestead Steel Strike (1892)
Frick announced pay cuts to homestead workers. Instead of locking the workers out he sent Pinkerton detective on barges up the river to find replacement workers. Pennsylvania State Militia was sent to suppress the strike and the union was crushed. -
Pullman Strike (1894)
In 1893 George Pullman laid off three quarters of his employees, cut wages by almost 30%. The American Railway Union announced a nation wide boycott of all trains carry Pullman cars. The ARU managed to shut down rail travel in 27 states. President Grover Cleveland's Attorny General Richard Olney convinced a federal judge to issue an injunction against the strikers. Cleveland himself sent 10,000 federal troops in to supress the strike. -
Flint Sit-Down Strike (1936-37)
In Flint the year-old United Auto Workers union took on General Motors, one of the richest and most powerful companies. In a confrontation that was a transformational moment for the labor movement. Instead of walking off the job they camped out in the plant making it impossible to resume production. Michigan Governor Frank Murphy refused to intervene on behalf of GM, they finally sent in the National Guard as peacekeepers. -
Delano Grape Strike (1965-70)
Newly farm workers fought a five year struggle to get better pay and more humane working conditions. They accomplished that by non-violent protest tactics such as marches and hunger strikes. Eventually the workers won a contract and their long struggle also let to legislators enacting the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act. -
Postal Workers' Strike (1970)
Employees of the US Postal Department grew frustrated after years of low pay and few raises for physically demanding jobs. But in March 1970 they went out on strike. President Richard Nixon dispatched National Guard to deviver the mail. After 8 days postal employees went back to work. Nixon administration gave them an immediate pay hike.