1919 New York City Harbor strike

Labor strike in New York City, US February 2025 October 2026 InternetArchiveBot 1919 New York City Harbor strike Labor Unions View in New York Harbor, shipping and the fleet passing in review, April 9 1919.jpg Shipping and US fleet passing in review, April 9, 1919 Jan 9 – April 20, 1919 (Jan 9, 1919 y ago) United States End of WW1 which changed labor conditions Public sector: Reduced 8 hour day, wage increases. Private sector: Wage increases, 10 hour day. Marine Workers AffiliationHarbor Workers US GovernmentNYC Harbor Companies William A. Maher 15,000–16,000 The New York City Harbor strike started on January 9, 1919.Squires Benjamin M. 1919 The Marine Workers Affiliation of the Port of New York https://www.jstor.org/stable/1820680 Journal of Political Economy 27 10 866–874 10.1086/253233 1820680 154763364 0022-3808 subscription It involved 15,0009 January 1919 15,000 Ordered out for Harbor Strike 9 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/01/09/archives/15000-ordered-out-for-harbor-strike-freight-handlers-however-stay.html deviated https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:15,000_ORDERED_OUT_FOR_HARBOR_STRIKE.pdf May 30, 2023 –16,000Squires Benjamin M. February 1919 The New York Harbor Strike https://www.jstor.org/stable/41827417 Monthly Labor Review 8 2 12–27 41827417 0098-1818 workers striking after it was called by the executive committee of the Marine Workers Union. It stopped temporarily on January 13, after President Wilson requested intervention by the War Labor Board on January 11 through a telegram.J. Davis James https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/national-war-labor-board-a-history-formation-activities-together-awards-documents-importance-record-development-december-1921-3897 National War Labor Board; A History of Its Formation and Activities, Together with Its Awards and the Documents of Importance in the Record of Its Development. Ethelbert Stewart December 1921 United States Bureau of Labor Statistics 978-1-314-62140-2 287 126–132 en After the War Labor Board's involvement was announced, the strike was suspended on January 13. Deliberations occurred over the next 3 weeks, a ruling was decided a month later through the case, Marine Workers’ Affiliation of New York Harbor, v. The Railroad Administration, Shipping Board, United States Navy, War Department, and Red Star Towing & Transportation Co. It was ruled on by War Labor Board Umpire, V. Everit Macy.1919-02-13 NAME PORT STRIKE ARBITER.; V. Everit Macy Appointed Umpire by War Labor Board. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/02/13/archives/name-port-strike-arbiter-v-everit-macy-appointed-umpire-by-war.html deviated 2023-03-06 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NAME_PORT_STRIKE_ARBITER.,_V._Everit_Macy_Appointed_Umpire_by_War_Labor_Board.pdf May 30, 2023 0362-4331 The specifics of the awards was divided by sectors within the industry: Ferryboats; Tugs, other towing vessels, and steam lighters Lighters, covered barges, and hoisters; Coal and grain boats, scows, and dumps. The general findings however were as follows. For applicable sectors, hours would be reduced. Everit cites the World War I armistice, lowering the need for long working hours. For sectors where hours were lowered, their previous pay within a month, established in 1918, would remain unchanged, effectively raising hourly pay. For all sectors, total pay for a 'normal working day' would remain unchanged.1919-02-27 HARBOR WORKERS RENEW STRIKE TALK; May Insist on 25 Per Cent. Increase in Pay Refused by War Labor Board. EIGHT-HOUR DAY GRANTED Refer Question to Six Unions of Affiliation for Decision, and May Tie Up Port Again. Expects Large Overtime Wages. HARBOR WORKERS RENEW STRIKE TALK No Change in Garment Strike. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/02/27/archives/harbor-workers-renew-strike-talk-may-insist-on-25-per-cent-increase.html deviated 2023-03-06 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HARBOR_WORKERS_RENEW_STRIKE_TALK,_May_Insist_on_25_Per_Cent._Increase_in_Pay_Refused_byWar_Labor_Board.pdf May 30, 2023 0362-4331February 20, 1919 Port Workers Win 8 Hours; Lose on Wage https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/data/batches/dlc_brown_ver01/data/sn83030214/00206532361/1919022601/0655.pdf chroniclingamerica.gov Hours worked past what was ruled a normal working day by the war board would be paid as 1.5x overtime pay. This, effective May 1, 1919 would remain in effect until peace was declared (the board was disbanded on May 31, 1919) or July 1, 1919 thumb|A Wall Street Journal article claiming the War Labor Board decision will be enforced.-January 9, 1919. "I therefore find that no wage increase should be granted and that the wage scales in the award of the New York Harbor Board dated July 12, 1918, and those in the award of the Railroad Administration Board dated September 1, 1918, shall remain in effect during the life of this award. That those employees whose working day is herein reduced from 12 hours to 8 hours shall receive the same monthly wage for the 8 hours as they formerly did for 12 hours. Also that the employees whose week has been reduced to 48 hours shall receive the same monthly salary as previously." - Umpire, V. Everit (2/25/1919) However, The Marine Workers Union refused these terms and re-declared a strike on March 4, 1919.1919-03-05 MARINE WORKERS' STRIKE PARALYZES NEW YORK HARBOR; Union Leaders Say 12,000 Are Out and That 90 Per Cent of Traffic Is Tied Up. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/03/05/archives/marine-workers-strike-paralyzes-new-york-harbor-union-leaders-say.html deviated 2023-03-06 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MARINE_WORKERS%27_STRIKE_PARALYZES_NEW_YORK_HARBOR,_Union_Leaders_Say_12,000_Are_Out_and_That_90_Per_Cent._of_Traffic_Is_Tied_Up.pdf May 30, 2023 0362-4331 A notable exception to the strike occurred two days later, when workers returned to help dock & greet returning soldiers from World War 1.center|thumb|The Leviathan ship pulls into NY Harbor on March 6, 1919. Dockworkers returning from strike to ensure it and Mauretania’s safe arrival of the men of the 27th.|472x472pxBy March 24, the four main government agencies involved (The Railroad Administration, Shipping Board, United States Navy & War Department) had conceded to strikers demands for higher wages, against the legally binding War Board decision.1919-03-05 THE HARBOR STRIKE. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/03/05/archives/the-harbor-strike.html 2023-03-06 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:THE_HARBOR_STRIKE.pdf May 30, 2023 0362-4331 The Railroad Administration was the first to grant the eight hour day with wage increases, after which the three other administrations followed, ending the strike for the public sector. However, the strike continued for private boats. A preliminary deal was reached for the remaining 4,000-5,000 striking workers on April 20, 1919.1919-04-20 END HARBOR STRIKE; GRANT 10-HOUR DAY; Question of Wages to be Decided by a Joint Committee of Boat Owners and Workers. NONUNION MEN KEEP JOBS Plenty of Work for All – New York's Commerce Relieved from Threat of Demoralization. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/04/20/archives/end-harbor-strike-grant-10hour-day-question-of-wages-to-be-decided.html deviated 2023-03-06 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:END_HARBOR_STRIKE;_GRANT_10-HOUR_DAY,_Question_of_Wages_to_be_Decided_by_a_Joint_Committee.pdf May 30, 2023 0362-4331 Which was then followed by two months of deliberation by the Arbitration Board, with an agreement reached on June 16, 1919. The deal conceded retroactive pay increases for private boat workers, 1 week paid vacation (for those who had worked for more than a year), and meal compensation; However the 10 hours day remained the same as before for private boat workers, unlike the public workers who had successfully won an hours decrease.1919-06-17 MORE FOR PORT WORKERS.; Arbitration Board, Unionists and Employers, Announces Agreement. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/06/17/archives/more-for-port-workers-arbitration-board-unionists-and-employers.html deviated 2023-03-06 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:More_for_Port_Workers.pdf May 30, 2023 0362-4331 See also Organised labour New York City tugboat strike of 1946 1919 Seattle General Strike 1912 New York City waiters' strike 1938 New York City truckers strike 2024 United States port strike References Category:1910s strikes in the United States Category:1919 in New York City Category:1919 labor disputes and strikes Category:Labor disputes in New York City Category:Maritime labor disputes in the United States Category:January 1919 in the United States Category:February 1919 in the United States Category:March 1919 in the United States Category:April 1919 in the United States