In virtually every year from 1919, American workers led the working class of the world in both the absolute and relative number of hours lost by strikes, or was second or third. These figures are the answer to those who talk about the working class in America ready and willing to accept anything. Not only did the working class in the United States organize itself in a way and on a scale not known anywhere else in the world, it won victories that are monumental victories in the history of the working class. The unions did not organize the strikes; the working class in the strikes and through the strikes organized the unions. The full organization of major American industries came as a result of the victories of the working class, is a mark of the victories, not the cause of the victories. The advances of the working class were made by the struggle from below, by the natural organization of the working class.
In 1930 there were 637 strikes, involving 133,000 workers, or .8%, of the work force. This meant 18.1 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1931 there were 810 strikes involving 342,000 workers or 1.6% of the work force. This meant 20.2 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1932 there were 841 strikes involving 324,000 workers or 1.8% of the work force. This meant 32.4 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1933, 1,685 strikes involving 1,170,000 workers or 6.3% of the work force. This meant 14.4 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1934, 1,856 strikes involving 1,470,000 workers or 7.2% of the work force.
In 1935, 2,014 strikes, involving 1,120,000 workers or 5.2% of the work force.
In 1936, 2,171 strikes, involving 789,000 workers or 3.1%, of the work force. This indicates the spreading of struggles to small factories and marginal industries while in the large factories there is the lull before the storm.
In 1937, the year of the sitdown strikes there were 4,740 strikes involving 1,860.,000 workers or 7.2% of the workers, the largest year of struggle in American history other than for 1919 when there had been 3,630 strikes including the Seattle General Strike involving 4,150,000 workers or 20.8% of the work force. (And in 1937 a much larger percentage of workers ware white collar workers than in 1919.)
In 1938, there were 2,772 strikes involving only 688,000 workers, or 2.3% of the work force.
In 1939, there were 2,613 strikes involving 1,170,000 workers or 4.7% of the work force.
In 1940, there were 2,508 strikes involving 577,000 workers or 2.3% of the work force.
In 1941 there were 4,288 strikes involving 2,360,000 workers or 8.4% of the work force, the third biggest year in the number of strikes and number of workers involved.
In the first year of U.S. participation in the fighting, 1942, there were 2,968 strikes involving 1,170,000 workers of 4.7% of the work force, despite the fervor of the war activity and the fact that strikes were in fact virtually illegal.
In 1943, the number of strikes rose to 3,752 involving 1,980,000 workers, or 6.9% of the work force. Most of these were “quickie” strikes of short duration (the average strike meant only the loss of 5 days of work per worker involved as over against much higher losses earlier.)
In 1944, the number of strikes rose to 4,954 involving 2,120,000 workers or 7% of the work force. Again, the quickie strike in basic production. (Workers in marginal industries were doing fairly well because there were too few workers.) Workers in basic industries were striking not because of low wages but because they knew their power and found the pace of work and the work conditions intolerable.
In 1945, there were 4,750 strikes involving 3,470,000 workers or 12.2% of the work force.
In 1946, there were 4,956 strikes involving 4,600,000 workers or 14.5% of the work force. If we take into account the fact that a much larger percentage of the work force was white collar in 1946, 1946 is the year of the greatest militancy up until that point.
Taken from this article
In 1930 there were 637 strikes, involving 133,000 workers, or .8%, of the work force. This meant 18.1 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1931 there were 810 strikes involving 342,000 workers or 1.6% of the work force. This meant 20.2 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1932 there were 841 strikes involving 324,000 workers or 1.8% of the work force. This meant 32.4 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1933, 1,685 strikes involving 1,170,000 workers or 6.3% of the work force. This meant 14.4 man days idle per worker involved.
In 1934, 1,856 strikes involving 1,470,000 workers or 7.2% of the work force.
In 1935, 2,014 strikes, involving 1,120,000 workers or 5.2% of the work force.
In 1936, 2,171 strikes, involving 789,000 workers or 3.1%, of the work force. This indicates the spreading of struggles to small factories and marginal industries while in the large factories there is the lull before the storm.
In 1937, the year of the sitdown strikes there were 4,740 strikes involving 1,860.,000 workers or 7.2% of the workers, the largest year of struggle in American history other than for 1919 when there had been 3,630 strikes including the Seattle General Strike involving 4,150,000 workers or 20.8% of the work force. (And in 1937 a much larger percentage of workers ware white collar workers than in 1919.)
In 1938, there were 2,772 strikes involving only 688,000 workers, or 2.3% of the work force.
In 1939, there were 2,613 strikes involving 1,170,000 workers or 4.7% of the work force.
In 1940, there were 2,508 strikes involving 577,000 workers or 2.3% of the work force.
In 1941 there were 4,288 strikes involving 2,360,000 workers or 8.4% of the work force, the third biggest year in the number of strikes and number of workers involved.
In the first year of U.S. participation in the fighting, 1942, there were 2,968 strikes involving 1,170,000 workers of 4.7% of the work force, despite the fervor of the war activity and the fact that strikes were in fact virtually illegal.
In 1943, the number of strikes rose to 3,752 involving 1,980,000 workers, or 6.9% of the work force. Most of these were “quickie” strikes of short duration (the average strike meant only the loss of 5 days of work per worker involved as over against much higher losses earlier.)
In 1944, the number of strikes rose to 4,954 involving 2,120,000 workers or 7% of the work force. Again, the quickie strike in basic production. (Workers in marginal industries were doing fairly well because there were too few workers.) Workers in basic industries were striking not because of low wages but because they knew their power and found the pace of work and the work conditions intolerable.
In 1945, there were 4,750 strikes involving 3,470,000 workers or 12.2% of the work force.
In 1946, there were 4,956 strikes involving 4,600,000 workers or 14.5% of the work force. If we take into account the fact that a much larger percentage of the work force was white collar in 1946, 1946 is the year of the greatest militancy up until that point.
Taken from this article
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