The Great Railroad Strike of 1922
Historical eventAbout
The Great Railroad Strike of 1922 was a pivotal event in American labor history, involving approximately 400,000 workers. It began on July 1, 1922, as a response to wage cuts imposed by railroad companies. The strike was initiated by seven railroad unions, primarily affecting shopmen and maintenance workers, while the "Big Four" unions—Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Order of Railway Conductors, and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen—did not participate. The strike disrupted national transportation, prompting federal intervention. President Warren G. Harding deployed troops to enforce order, and Attorney General Harry Daugherty obtained a sweeping injunction to end the strike. The conflict resulted in the deaths of at least ten strikers and significant job losses. Despite its failure, the strike highlighted the struggle for better wages and working conditions, influencing future labor legislation like the 1926 Railroad Labor Act. It also exposed divisions within the labor movement and the use of force by the government to suppress strikes, marking a significant moment in the history of American labor relations.
