Thank you to Nimbus for posting this diary, about a subject which I, a Chicagoan, had never learned.
In 1936, "Big Steel" (the United States Steel Corporation) recognized the SWOC, or Steel Workers Organizing Committee, and signed a contract allowing for wages of five dollars a day, with 40-hour weeks and time-and-a-half for overtime. 110 firms were under this contract by May, 1937.
The SWOC called for a strike against Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation - within 36 hours, the corporation agreed to a Labor Board Election, which was won by the union, 17,028 to 7,207.
Learn how this affected Chicago, on the flip.
On May 26, 1937, SWOC called for a strike of the three "Little Steel" companies, including Republic (which had a district in South Chicago). Most of the affected plants closed during the strike. Republic refused to close all of its plants, and housed non-union-workers within some of the plants so that they could avoid picket lines. One of the plants being run by non-union-workers was Republic Steel's South Chicago plant.
Half of the plant's 2,200 employees joined the strike. When the walkout started, the police interfered in attempts by non-committed workers to join the strike. A peaceful picket line in front of the plant was broken up by police, with 23 arrested (when they refused to move.)
Chicago's mayor (Edward J. Kelley) announced that peaceful picketing would be allowed. When strikers attempted to establish pickets after this announcement, they were again turned away. On the 27th at about 5:00 PM, strikers marched from strike headquarters towards the plant. By the time they'd reached Buffalo Ave, the police line had been reinforced. The strikers continued; fights broke out with police using clubs to fight the strikers back. Revolvers were drawn and shots fired into the air.
A Union leader, Nick Fontecchio, called for a meeting at strike headquarters on Memorial Day Sunday. The police captain received a rumor that an attempt would made to invade Republic and drive out the remaining non-union workers. He stationed an army of 264 police at Republic Steel.
1500 had gathered at strike headquarters by 3 PM on May 30 - it was a warm, sunny day. Many brought their wives and children to join in the gathering. Speakers addressed labor issues, including the right to organize and to picket. Resolutions were approved to send reports about the police conduct to government officials. It was then moved to march to the plant and picket.
1000 strikers lined up behind two American flags. They moved across an open prairie and over a dirt road chanting, "CIO, CIO!" The police relocated to a position across from the dirt road in a double line with clubs drawn. Some of the arms were provided by Republic, including non-regulation clubs and tear gas.
The marchers met the police, demanded their right to picket be recognized, and that they be allowed to pass. The police commanded they disperse, but they did not. Marchers armed themselves with rocks and tree branches. The language turned abusive and tension increased.
Cameraman Orland Lippert was recording this, but was changing lenses when fighting broke out, which led to dispute about which side started the violence. At hearings led by Senator Robert LaFollette, the generally accepted account was given.
Police were trying to prevent marchers from outflanking them. As some of the strikers began to retreat, a stick was thrown from the back of the line toward the police. Immediately, tear gas bombs were thrown at the marchers, followed by total chaos.
More objects were thrown at the police. Without being ordered, several policemen at the front of the line drew their revolvers and fired at the ranks of the marchers (who were in retreat). The actual shooting continued for about 15 seconds, but then the police drew their clubs, beating anyone in their paths - including women and children. Arrests were made, with patrol wagons filled to twice their allowed capacity. Injured were not taken directly to hospitals.
Four marchers were fatally shot, six mortally wounded, and thirty suffered gunshot wounds. 38 were hospitalized because of injuries from the beatings, with 30 more requiring medical treatment. All but four of the fifty-four gunshot wounds were to the side or back. One victim was shot four times. Police casualties were minor, with 35 injuries reported, three police requiring overnight hospital care, and no gunshot wounds.
Strikers protested the police brutality, but local press (especially the Trib) protrayed the marchers as communist conspirators who had attacked the police and attempted to throw out non-union workers from the plant. The LaFollette Committee determined:
- The police should not have limited the number of peaceful pickets.
- The march was not intended to reach the workers in the plant.
- *If* the march was to be ended, it should have been completed with 'limited' violence.
- Force used by the police was excessive; the marchers only provocation were abusive language and limited missiles (sticks/rocks).
- The police could have avoided bloodshed
In 1941, the "Little Steel" companies agreed to unfair labor practices, and in 1942 signed their first contract recognizing the United Steelworkers of America.
***
Yesterday, I travelled to South Chicago. I brought my cameras (as usual) and a bouquet.
It was a long day, that started early, ended late, and had a lot of emotions within it. The plan was to take the Red Line south to 69th Street, and the number 30 bus to O Ave and 116th Street (damn near to Indiana). Because the 30 only runs south from 92nd street on Sundays, this meant I had to take the number 71 to 92nd and Commercial - meandering through Chicago's South East side.
I disembarked at Avenue O and 116th. Republic was bought out by LTV, which announced bankruptcy in 2001.
I'd been told that I could follow 116th to my left (east?) and would reach Green Bay Road. But I didn't see Memorial Hall. So I stopped in at the Chicago Park District Building at a local park, where a custodian gave me very clear, specific directions (back the way I came, and then in the direction the bus had continued...)
A Republic/LTV building
Another Republic/LTV building
Within 10 minutes, I was standing before Memorial Hall - located on the site where the strikers had made their headquarters.
It looked very deserted. But I found the plaque that I'd come to see.
In memory of
Hilding Anderson Alfred Causey Leo Francisco
Earl Handly Otis Jones Sam Popovich
Kenneth W. Reed Anthony Tagliori Lee Tisdale
Joseph Rothmund
Martyrs - Heroes - Unionists
Shot down May 30, 1937, Memorial Day, at the gates of Republic
Steel Co. while parading for the right to organize a union,
promote industrial democracy and to secure justice and
equality for working men and women everywhere.
Erected May 30, 1967
By
The United Steelworkers of America Committee to Commemorate
The 1937 Memorial Day Massacre
LTV/Republic Steel from the memorial
This was my first stop for the day, yesterday (though I diaried yesterday about Eyes Wide Open, my second stop. And I was greatly saddened by South Chicago.
I'd passed through some lovely little neighborhoods filled with neat bungalows and ranch houses, built through the blood and toil of these unionists. But when I asked the (nice!) custodian about Memorial Hall and the plaque, she knew nothing about the story. (She does, a little, today.)
When I got to Memorial Hall, it looked like no one has been there for Some Time (except maybe to water those little yew trees.)
The plaque looked weathered and abused (maybe vandalized?).
It rested at the foot of a flag pole that hasn't flown a flag in some time, and probably won't. I don't say that because the gears were weathered or rusted... I say that because there was no rope on the pole, on which to raise a flag.
No one walked up to me and asked, "Why are you here? What's this about?" Besides the bus driver, the custodian, and people driving by me, no one knew I was there at all.
Nimbus, thank you for your diary, thank you for teaching me about these heroes. I am glad that I went there. But I am sad ... while the plaque reads "Erected, May 30, 1967" it should continue, "Neglected, May 27, 2007."