80th anniversary event

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League leaders used this to show workers the bank­ ruptcy of the union hierarchy and to show the power of the rank and file.

This power was soon evident in the well-organized and strategic strike. Within three hours of the strike being declared, workers had closed 65 of the 67 coal yards in the city; all 67 were closed by the end of the first day. One of the innovative tactics developed and used by the Minneapolis strikers was the “cruising picket.” In this strategy, strike leaders used vehicles owned by workers to distribute pickets where they were needed around the city, thus maximizing the forces they had to stop scab trucks as they attempted to move goods around the city. Picket Captain Harry DeBoer and his cruising picket squads soon became known as “hell on wheels.”

Despite early clashes with the police, the workers held firm, and under growing pressure from the pub­ lic, who were clamoring for coal to heat their homes during a sub-zero cold snap, the industry agreed to negotiate after only three days on strike.

The bosses agreed to recognize the right of the union to represent its workers in negotiations, but this de­ pended on the outcome of a collective bargaining vote. If the union won the vote, the bosses would negotiate a salary increase. This meant that the strikers would have to go back to work without a guarantee of sal­ ary increase or other demands. Although Miles Dunne wanted to continue the strike, Business Agent Cliff Hall convinced the majority of workers to accept the deal.

After preparing for the vote on collective bargain­ ing in mid-February, Local 574 won by a landslide. As Miles had predicted, the bosses then refused to nego­ tiate with the union except through the Labor Board.

“To observe the 80th anniversary of the 1934 Teamsters strikes, organizers are beginning to plan a street festival for Saturday, July 19, and a picnic for Sunday, July 20,” The Minneapolis Labor Review reports in its January issue.

“We are looking for men and women who are descendants of the people who took part in the strikes of 1934 in Minneapolis and who heard stories,” said Linda Leighton, 65, who is a granddaughter of key strike leader Vincent “Ray” Dunne. Leighton is a member of SEIU Lo­ cal 284 and union steward.

Leighton told about showing a film about the strike, “Labor’s Turning Point,” at one of her local union meetings, the article said. “People broke into spontaneous applause,” she said. “The strike continues to inspire workers.”

The commemorative project has obtained broad support from the state labor movement, including the four central labor union bodies and the two largest Teamster groups, Locals 120 and 320. Local 120 is the successor to General Drivers Locals 574 and 544, which led the strikes and capitalized on the momentum of the victory to “Make Minneapolis A Union Town.”

Monthly planning meetings have been held since early January. More information is avail­ able on Facebook page “Remember 1934.”

— DAVID JONES SOCIALIST ACTION MARCH 2014 11

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SOCIALIST ACTION