Take It Easy, But Take It

"Chicago: Members of the United Packinghouse Workers Local 28, CIO, carry signs picket-style advertising the union's new food store. Union members and their families can purchase food at cost price. The store was established to help combat the rising cost of living. 9/26/47"

"WHEN POLICE MOVE IN ON GUILD PICKETS This picture was taken just before police arrested 18 men and woman. Members of or sympathizers with the American Newspaper Guild, in a strike against the Seattle Star, at Seattle, Wash. The Guild has been on strike against the Star since July 3. Police Said the arrests were not for picketing but for "ganging up in a doorway" in attempts to prevent E.W. Scripps executive and employees from entering. The incident followed a mass visit of strikers to the Star when they demanded their jobs back as a group. 8-3-37"

"PONTIAC RENT STRIKE THREATENS TO SPREAD In this building at Pontiac, Mich. is housed the headquarters of one of the newest strike movements that may become nationwide before long. It is the headquarters of a United Automobile Workers Local, and also serves as central quarters for the Pontiac Tenants Union. The plan of the union calls for all members, whether satisfied or disatisfied renters, to withhold payment of their rent while an effort would be made to establish a scale of rents based on a dollar a month on each $1000 of assessed valuation of the property rented. Members were urged to bank each month the amount of their rent, so as to be ready to pay when adjustment was made. The union further plans to aid every tenant to contest his case in court after refusal of the rent compels the landlord to bring eviction action. 6/4/37" 

"MASS VIOLENCE MILWAUKEE, WISC - CIO Strikers at the Alliis Chalmers Plant wasted no time in turning over an automobile attempting to enter the plant, April 1. Because authorities were unable to control the rioting, Gov. Heil ordered the plant closed. Credit Line: ACME 4/2/41"

"MINNEAPOLIS IS PLACED UNDER MARTIAL LAW BECAUSE OF STRIKE Photo shows members of the Minnesota National Guard on duty at street corner near armory where they are making their headquarters while in city, Governor Floyd Olson declared martial law throughout Minneapolis and Hennepin County, to be started at noon, July 26, with Adj. General Ellard A. Walsh in charge. because of claim that civil authorities were not able to cope with rioting in connection with truck drivers strike. Credit Line: Acme 7/26/34"

"Over She Goes! Halted by a bombardment of rocks, police ducked and watched as a crowd of demonstrators pushed over the automobile of a working employee Monday at the CIO-struck Fisher Body Plant in Cleveland. A rock can be seen flying over the head of a ducking policeman in the center of the picture and those round things at his feet are not marbles. Associated Press Photo 7/31/39"

"Dearborn, Michigan - Strikers of the Oil Workers International Union Local 456 C.I.O. picket the Dearborn Wyoming bulk station at the Socony Vacuum Oil Co. Credit Line: Acme  9/20/45"

"Everett, Massachusetts - Here is a striking view of tear gas routing pickets and strike sympathizers in the seaman's strike here. Note effigy hanging to outside telephone pole of an employment agency official that was strung up. Credit Line: Acme 5/2/1939"

"Three shot in textile riot. Rhode Island state troopers throwing tear gas bombs in an effort to quell a riot that broke out before the Saylesville, R.I. Finishing Mill, September 10. Three men were shot and a fourth seriously injured in the battle which took place between pickets, state troopers and mill guards. Associated Press Photo 9/10/34" 1934 was a major year for American workers. Three critical labor victories set the tone for what was possible under section 7-a of the National Industrial Recovery Act (1933) that guaranteed workers the right to form unions of their own choosing. The Teamsters strike in Minneapolis, The Toledo Autolite Strike and the West Coast Longshoremen's strike all tipped the scales for labor but the Textile Workers pictured here were crushed in '34.

"Pickets On Wheels - Toronto, Canada, Pickets on roller skates roll along the picket line in front of the General Steel Wares Ltd Plant in Toronto where strikers seek CIO recognition. Credit Line: Acme 11/1/39"

"Striking Longshoremen Protest Student Hire. Striking Pacific Coast Longshoremen asking for higher wage and shorter working hours parade along San Francisco's famed Embarcadero in protest of ship companies hiring student help to break the strike. A sustained report that several members of the University of California's football squad were unloading ships brought out the above demonstration. Credit Line: ACME  5/13/34"