Erik Loomis

So in the early 20th century, American workers engaged in strikes of all kinds. Some of them were radical. Some of them were not radical. A lot of the biggest issues were around politics, right? For union members, for workers, are we engaged in some sort of radicalism or do we really believe in like an American capitalist system that

So in the early 20th century, American workers engaged in strikes of all kinds. Some of them were radical. Some of them were not radical. A lot of the biggest issues were around politics, right? For union members, for workers, are we engaged in some sort of radicalism or do we really believe in like an American capitalist system that

maybe need some adjustment, but is something that we can generally work with. And, you know, there's very few, quote, general strikes in American history for a number of different reasons where workers from across multiple industries, across a city, never really across the nation, have come together to, say, shut down a particular city for a given time.

maybe need some adjustment, but is something that we can generally work with. And, you know, there's very few, quote, general strikes in American history for a number of different reasons where workers from across multiple industries, across a city, never really across the nation, have come together to, say, shut down a particular city for a given time.

And Seattle in 1919 is one of the most important and interesting ones. And, you know, one of the fascinating things about this strike and about the other limited general strikes is how rarely they've actually come out of self-proclaimed radicals, whether it's the IWW, the Communist Party, etc. And that was the case in 1919 as well. It really just started with longshoremen strike.

And Seattle in 1919 is one of the most important and interesting ones. And, you know, one of the fascinating things about this strike and about the other limited general strikes is how rarely they've actually come out of self-proclaimed radicals, whether it's the IWW, the Communist Party, etc. And that was the case in 1919 as well. It really just started with longshoremen strike.

Shipyard workers had gone two years without a pay raise. You had 35,000 workers walk away from their job. They thought they were going to get a raise after the end of World War I. It didn't happen, etc., etc. They go on strike. A couple of weeks pass. Pressure's really growing on the workers.

Shipyard workers had gone two years without a pay raise. You had 35,000 workers walk away from their job. They thought they were going to get a raise after the end of World War I. It didn't happen, etc., etc. They go on strike. A couple of weeks pass. Pressure's really growing on the workers.

For the Seattle labor movement and the labor movement more generally, they really see this as an attempt to roll back gains that the labor movement had won during World War I.

For the Seattle labor movement and the labor movement more generally, they really see this as an attempt to roll back gains that the labor movement had won during World War I.

And so the general strike of Seattle begins with the Metal Trades Council, which were just traditional American Federation of Labor non-radical unions, because they just felt like they all had to come out in order to support these workers, because an attack on these longshoremen workers, that was an attack on everybody.

And so the general strike of Seattle begins with the Metal Trades Council, which were just traditional American Federation of Labor non-radical unions, because they just felt like they all had to come out in order to support these workers, because an attack on these longshoremen workers, that was an attack on everybody.

And over the next few days, they basically shut the city down, but also engaged, and this is an important thing, I think, throughout the way we talk about these things in terms of the relevance for today.

And over the next few days, they basically shut the city down, but also engaged, and this is an important thing, I think, throughout the way we talk about these things in terms of the relevance for today.

They engaged in a social movement unionism where they made sure they were able to feed the people, where they made sure hospitals were staffed, where people were having fun, where essential workers may still be working because the people of the city have to continue to be able to live there and support that strike.

They engaged in a social movement unionism where they made sure they were able to feed the people, where they made sure hospitals were staffed, where people were having fun, where essential workers may still be working because the people of the city have to continue to be able to live there and support that strike.

And it's able to succeed more or less until national labor leadership, scared of the potential radical implications, shut it down. And in fact, that becomes a disaster. Seattle labor movement falls apart in the aftermath. But that's one of those moments in which you do see unions come together.

And it's able to succeed more or less until national labor leadership, scared of the potential radical implications, shut it down. And in fact, that becomes a disaster. Seattle labor movement falls apart in the aftermath. But that's one of those moments in which you do see unions come together.

across ideological lines to support a larger principle of unions surviving, of workers having dignity, and of trying to move a fight forward in which all of us can come together to make a positive change.

across ideological lines to support a larger principle of unions surviving, of workers having dignity, and of trying to move a fight forward in which all of us can come together to make a positive change.