1910 Chicago garment workers' strike

1910 Chicago garment workers' strike
Date September 1910-February 1911
Location Chicago
Also known as Hart, Schaffner, and Marx strike
Outcome Codification in 1911 improved standards within the labor workers standards. The emergence of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.

The 1910 Chicago garment workers' strike, also known as the Hart, Schaffner and Marx (HSM) strike, was a labor strike established and led by women in which diverse workers in the garment industry showed their capability to unify ethnic boundaries in response to an industry infamous for low wages and poor conditions. The strike began on September 22, with sixteen women protesting the establishment of a bonus system that heavily favored particular workers and also mandated a cut in the piece rate of ¼ cent. The strike was initially supported by the United Garment Workers (UGW), however the UGW withdrew its support and the strike came to a halt when a deal was agreed upon between the labor leader Sidney Hillman and HSM in January 1911, with the radical strikers holding out until February 18. The strike was successful, as the Rate Committee mandated contracts that presented workers with improved wages and conditions.[1]

Background

From 1880 to 1920, there had been a significant amount of labor strikes as the conditions, treatment, and wages of workers did not equal the amount of time and quality of work the average laborer dedicated. The rise of the garment industry in this time period was particular relevant to women, as by the end of the first decade of the 20th century, the garment industry was Chicago's third-largest employer and the single largest employer of women. The 1910 Chicago Garment Workers' Strike was preceded by similar garment labor strikes in different locations, such as the Uprising of the 20,000, and subsequent strikes in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Fair treatment was desired by women as they did an equal amount of work compared to men, yet men oftentimes received a higher pay rate and/or concealed benefits.[1]

Strike

The strike began on September 22, 1910, when sixteen women protested the Hart, Schaffner, Marx firm due to a biased bonus system and a cut in the piece rate. The strike grew rapidly and tremendously by the end of the first week as 2,000 women had joined the effort. The peak of the strikers came when the strike was sanctioned by the UGW with 41,000 workers walking off the job. Even though, the UGW supported the strikers, its support was not sufficient as the UGW did not call a general strike but relied upon the workers that did not have contracts and the HSM was able to counter the strikers by providing work to non-union subcontractors. This resulted in the strike losing an edge on the HSM and subsequently the strike began to decline. The UGW backed out of support in December 1910 as the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) encouraged that the strikers reach a deal. A deal was reached when the labor leader Sidney Hillman collaborated with the HSM firm. After a bitter, four-month strike, Hillman was instrumental in convincing the HSM to accept most worker demands, including recognition of newly formed Local 39 of the UGW, and an agreement to settle some future disputes by arbitration.[1][2][3]

Outcome

The strike was successful as women and workers received important support and attention that led to a re-codification of rules that were part of the deal. This deal also led to other codifications in 1913 and 1916.[4] Also, the strike marked the start of what became the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and began the career of Sidney Hillman as a labor leader.[1]

The strike claimed five lives. The first was striker Charles Lazinskas, killed by a private detective on December 3, and Frank Nagreckis was shot and killed while picketing on the 15th.[5] Then between December 24 and January 3, eighteen-year-old non-union worker John Donnelly was shot to death by three unknown men, bystander Ferninand Weiss was shot and killed by a private detective, and a company guard named Fred Reinhart was killed by strikers in an ambush.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Women Working, 1800-1930".
  2. ↑ "Sidney Hillman: Garment Worker Expanded Union Ideals Beyond the Workplace". The American Postal Worker. November–December 2009.
  3. ↑ Pastorello, Karen (2005). How Did Cross-Class Alliances Shape the 1910 Chicago Garment Workers' Strike?. Binghamton, NY: State University of New York at Binghamton. p. Document 5A.
  4. ↑ Mullenbach, James (1916). The Hart, Schaffner & Marx labor agreement : being a compilation and codification of the agreements of 1911, 1913 and 1916 and decisions rendered by the Board of Arbitration. Chicago. pp. 40–41.
  5. ↑ Leo Wolman, et. al. (1922). The clothing workers of Chicago, 1910-1922. Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Research Dept. p. 32. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Weiler, N. Sue (Winter 1979). "Walkout: The Chicago Men's Garment Workers' Strike, 1910- 1911" (PDF). Chicago History. 8 (4): pp.238–49. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
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