Stuff You Missed in History Class: The 1946 Oakland General Strike

Released on March 24, 2025 by iHeartPodcasts

Introduction

In this episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, hosts Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson delve into the intricate history of the 1946 Oakland General Strike. They explore the socio-economic backdrop of post-World War II America, the dynamics between labor unions and management, the strike's progression, government intervention, and its lasting impact on American labor laws.

Historical Context and Labor Landscape [02:24 - 09:48]

Tracy V. Wilson opens the discussion by situating the 1946 Oakland General Strike within a broader wave of labor unrest that swept the United States in 1945-1946. This period was marked by widespread strikes as workers sought better wages and working conditions following the end of World War II.

Key Points:

• Wagner Act of 1935: Established employees' rights to unionize and prohibited employer interference. It also created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to oversee union elections and address unfair labor practices.

  "The Wagner act gave employees the right to form unions and barred employers from interfering with that right." [04:35]

• World War II Impact: As industries ramped up for the war effort, workers introduced aggressive collective actions to secure higher wages and improved conditions. Post-war, the removal of wartime controls led to inflation and economic adjustments that fueled further labor disputes.

• Government Measures: The establishment of the War Labor Board and policies like union security aimed to stabilize labor relations during the war. However, the end of the war saw these measures dismantled, resulting in soaring inflation (18% in 1946) and heightened unemployment.

Lead-Up to the Oakland Strike [09:48 - 22:08]

Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson discuss the economic struggles Americans faced post-war, including hyperinflation, housing shortages, and disrupted supply chains. These conditions bred frustration among workers who had sacrificed during the war years without seeing corresponding improvements in their livelihoods.

Key Points:

• Return of Soldiers: Veterans returning from the war found themselves facing stagnant wages and limited job opportunities, exacerbating economic tensions.

• Union Negotiations: Unions like the United Auto Workers sought significant wage increases without passing costs onto consumers, leading to tense negotiations and eventual strikes.

• Government and Business Resistance: Management and political figures, backed by anti-union sentiments, resisted union demands, creating a volatile environment ripe for large-scale labor actions.

The Oakland General Strike Unfolds [22:08 - 35:31]

Tracy V. Wilson narrates the events leading to the strike in Oakland, California, focusing on the efforts of retail workers to unionize and the subsequent pushback from employers and city authorities.

Key Events:

• Unionization Efforts: Retail workers at Conn's Department Store and Hastings Clothing Company sought to unionize, motivated by higher wages and better working conditions experienced by workers in already unionized stores.

• Provocation by Management: The Retail Merchants Association (RMA), representing major department stores, demanded that all member stores agree to unionize, an untenable condition that escalated tensions.

  "Management at Conn's and Hastings did not want the same thing to happen to them. They would only recognize the union if all 28 stores agreed to unionize." [22:08]

• Initial Strikes: Hastings workers struck on October 23, 1946, followed by Conn's on October 31, leading to solidarity actions from other unions, including the Teamsters refusing to cross picket lines.

• Government and Police Intervention: On December 1, 1946, city authorities, influenced by the RMA and political connections, violently cleared picketing workers from store premises using tear gas and physical force. Notably, Joe Shode of the International Typographical Union remarked:

  "Beat us off our own streets was the first step toward fascism." [26:47]

• Escalation to General Strike: In response to the aggressive enforcement against strikers, the AFL called for a general strike on December 3, 1946, involving approximately 100,000 workers and effectively shutting down downtown Oakland.

  "The general strike officially started at 5am on Monday, December 3. About 100,000 AFL workers across the county didn't show up for work or walked off the job." [27:58]

• Atmosphere During the Strike: Despite the tensions, the downtown area transformed into a festive environment with bars serving beer, jukeboxes on sidewalks, and a general party-like atmosphere, contrasting the serious nature of the strike.

• Lack of Coordination and Leadership Challenges: The strike suffered from insufficient planning and clear leadership directives, leading to logistical issues like shortages of food and supplies as stores remained closed.

Government Response and Strike Resolution [35:31 - 47:41]

Post-strike, Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson discuss the legislative repercussions of the strike, notably the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act.

Key Points:

• Shift in Political Power: The 1946 general election resulted in Republicans gaining majorities in both Congressional houses for the first time since 1933, signaling a shift in legislative priorities toward anti-union measures.

• Taft-Hartley Act (Labor Management Relations Act) of 1947: Introduced by Senator Robert A. Taft and Representative Fred A. Hartley Jr., this act amended the Wagner Act, placing restrictions on unions to balance power between labor and management.

  "The Taft Hartley act outlined unfair labor practices for unions as well, such as outlawing secondary boycotts and sympathy strikes." [44:46]

• Provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act:

  • Ban on Secondary Boycotts: Prevented unions from targeting neutral third parties in labor disputes.
  • Outlawed Sympathy Strikes: Restricted the ability to support strikes in unrelated industries.
  • Non-Communist Affidavits: Mandated that union leaders swear they were not affiliated with the Communist Party, leading to purges within unions.
  • Rights to Work Laws: Allowed states to pass legislation permitting workers to opt out of union membership without losing their jobs.

  "Section 9H required union officers to sign non-communist affidavits, effectively forcing many unions to expel communist members." [45:55]

• Impact on the Oakland Strike: The Taft-Hartley Act effectively ended large-scale general strikes in the U.S., with the 1946 Oakland strike being the last major one for decades. Subsequent general strikes faced legal hurdles and lacked the union support necessary to sustain them.

Legacy and Aftermath [47:41 - 56:41]

Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Fry explore the long-term effects of the Oakland General Strike and the Taft-Hartley Act on American labor movements.

Key Points:

• Decline of General Strikes: The Oakland strike remained the last significant general strike in the U.S. until recent years, with later attempts being constrained by Taft-Hartley provisions.

• Union Consolidation: The AFL and CIO merged in 1955, partly in response to the diminishing power of smaller unions due to restrictive labor laws.

• Political Influence: Despite initial momentum, the Oakland Voters League—formed by the AFL, CIO, and NAACP to bridge labor and civil rights—had limited success, highlighting the persistent racial and political challenges within union movements.

• Cultural Memory: The legacy of the strike is commemorated in Oakland's Central Plaza, which features placards dedicated to the event, serving as a historical reminder of labor struggles and their significance in shaping labor laws.

Notable Quotes

• "Beat us off our own streets was the first step toward fascism."
  — Joe Shode, International Typographical Union [26:47]

• "The Taft Hartley act outlined unfair labor practices for unions as well, such as outlawing secondary boycotts and sympathy strikes."
  — Tracy V. Wilson [44:46]

• "The Wagner act gave employees the right to form unions and barred employers from interfering with that right."
  — Tracy V. Wilson [04:35]

Conclusion

The 1946 Oakland General Strike stands as a pivotal moment in American labor history, emblematic of the post-war tensions between workers seeking equitable treatment and management entrenched in maintaining control. The subsequent Taft-Hartley Act significantly reshaped the landscape of labor relations, curbing the power of unions and setting the stage for future labor dynamics in the United States. This episode provides a comprehensive exploration of these events, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the factors that led to the strike, the strike itself, and its enduring repercussions on labor laws and union activities in America.

Listener Mail

Tracy V. Wilson shares listener feedback, highlighting the community's engagement with the podcast and its historical narratives. For example, Patty's email discusses her personal connection to hominy and homestyle cooking, illustrating how historical topics resonate with listeners' everyday lives.

"I grew up eating hominy and thought everyone ate it too. My mom would also make a dish with spinach and scrambled eggs that was so good." [49:12]

This segment underscores the podcast's ability to connect vast historical events to personal experiences, enriching the listener's appreciation of history's relevance.

Thank you for tuning into Stuff You Missed in History Class. For more intriguing historical analyses, subscribe to our show on the iHeartRadio app or your preferred podcast platform.