The workers strike
Labor activism during the late 19th and early 20th century was an ever increasing topic of discussion among the working class in the U.S. A key Italian led Labor movement during this time period was the McCloud lumber strike as prefaced on the previous slide.in summary, the grievances listed by the Italian workers were long hours, abysmal pay, and constant discrimination within the town and while working. On May 27th 1909, the Italians striked. The number of strikers is estimated around 500-700 Italians. There was no union, no contract, the agreement to strike was initially held only by Italians because of their heritage. (The McCloud Strike) The Italian workers seized the lumber mill, and when deputies arrived they threatened to destroy the mill. The Italian strikers then marched to the nearby town, cutting down telephone wires, shutting down the powerplant, and convincing other people in the town such as mechanics and store owners to join them in their strike. Newspapers reported on this event, and some reported that they had seized a powderhouse, giving them access to explosives and possibly firearms. While this was later disproved, it spurred the National Guard to step in, as shown in the first photograph. This created pressure on the strikers and put them in an uncertain position, as the National Guard forcefully demanded for the leaders of the strike to be arrested. Along with the National Guard, the Italian Consul in San Francisco dispatched S. L. Rocca and Ambrose Gherini to hopefully subdue the situation and come to an amicable agreement. (Consul Leaves) The pressure from the national Guard and susequent and arrests of the strike organizers led to a less than desired end to the strike for the Italian workers. On June 8th, the strike fell. The Italian workers lost their jobs, however they received fair evaluations for their cabins, seen behind the workers in the second photo, allowing them to escape from McCloud and the unethical, predatory, and dangerous hand of the McCloud River Lumber Company.