On this day in Labor History the year was 1937.
That was the day that would go down in labor history as the “Woman’s Day Massacre.”
The Steel Workers Organizing Committee were attempting to bring union recognition to the Steel Industry.
Earlier that year, US Steel had agreed to recognize the union.
But smaller steel companies including Republic and Bethlehem refused.
Republic even went so far as to fire 1,000 union supporters from plants in Canton and Massillon, Ohio.
Outraged, the union voted to go out on strike against Republic.
In Youngstown, strike organizers came up with an idea to bolster solidarity for the strike.
They would set a day for women to walk the lines.
Wives could show support for their striking husband by taking part in the pickets.
Youngstown Police Chief Charley Richmond did not like the idea of women picketers.
He demanded the women leave.
When they refused he ordered tear gas fired on the women and their Children who were also present at the picket.
One woman was carrying an infant. As outraged union members rushed to the scene police opened fire on the crowd.
One union organizer described the scene saying, "When I got there I thought the Great War had started over again. Gas was flying all over the place and shots flying and flares going up and it was the first time I had ever seen anything like it in my life."
Despite the violence the union members regrouped and attempted to confront the police again.
More shots were fired.
The next day Ohio’s governor ordered 5,000 National Guard to Youngstown.
Pickets were limited to ten people per gate. Republic fired many union leaders.
The Woman’s Day Massacre was just one instance of the anti-union violence faced by steel workers in their fight for dignity.
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