Socialism 2017
In 1934, there were three key militant strikes that provided the spark that set off the greatest conflagration of labor struggle in U.S. history: the San Francisco General Strike, the Toledo Auto-lite strike, and the Minneapolis Teamsters’ strike. This talk will tell the story of the Minneapolis truck drivers, who, led by Trotskyists, organized a series of three strikes for union recognition of Teamsters Local 574. The strike was characterized by militant mass picketing, democratic decision-making, and creative tactics like the flying picket, as well as mass rallies. Battling police, hired strikebreakers, and troops enforcing martial law, the workers eventually won their demands for a closed shop, shorter hours, pay increases, and higher pay for overtime.