The Big Strike Harry Bridges

early in 1934, bridges , albion hall group , militants in other ports began planning coast-wide strike. roosevelt administration tried head off strike appointing mediation board oversee negotiations, neither side accepted proposed compromise. bridges elected chairman of strike committee. strike began on may 9. while elected local officers nominal leaders of strike @ outset, bridges led planning of strike along friend sam kagel. recruited rank-and-file opposition 2 proposed contracts leadership negotiated , membership rejected during strike, , dealings other unions during related events.

a four-day san francisco general strike took place after bloody thursday on july 5, when police aided waterfront employers association in trucking cargo pierheads warehouses through union s picket line. scores of strikers beaten or wounded gunfire during battle. during coordinated raid on union mess hall @ corner of steuart , mission, san francisco police shot , killed howard sperry, striking sailor, , nick counderakis (aka nick bordoise), member of cook s union , strike sympathizer helping out @ mess hall. scores of other men wounded police gunfire well, including number of bystanders, ensuing battle spilled nearby downtown area.

bridges became chief spokesperson union in negotiations after workers rejected second agreement negotiated old leadership in june. bridges did not control strike: on strong objections, ila membership voted accept arbitration end strike. similarly, in 1935 bridges opposition did not stop ila leadership extending union s contract employers, rather striking in solidarity seamen.