Research Article: New Orleans General Strike

United States 1892

From 24 October 1892 to 11 November 1892, the city of New Orleans came to a virtual standstill as the city's employees challenged their employers for union recognition, collective bargaining, shorter workdays, increased salaries, and a closed shop, which guaranteed that union workers would be hired ahead of nonunion workers. Inspired by the streetcar drivers' successful strike earlier in the year, workers throughout New Orleans organized and lobbied for their demands. Of the striking workers, the most important group was the racially diverse Triple Alliance. As the relationship between the employees and the employers deteriorated, the unions called for a general strike. After being twice postponed, the general strike began on 8 November. Though the action lasted only three days, the workers won wage and hour concessions but failed to secure the important closed shop.

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In May 1892 New Orleans streetcar drivers struck and forced arbitration on...
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