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The rest of the industry consisting of smaller steel companies was expected to quickly follow suit. In this agreement the steel companies were also allowed a $ 5 instead of the previously set $ 4 a ton increase in steel prices. The steel companies also agreed to a clause of a retroactive pay increase
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The government also had planned a $ 4 per ton increase (against recommendations by OPA) in the price of steel for the industry, which would have fully offset any extra costs from 18½ cents wage increase. The industry had requested a $ 7/ton increase. Negotiations broke down, and industry refused any
379:
On
December 13, It was reported that a steel strike would likely have massive effects. Since even before the strike, steel supplies and stockpiles had dwindled, as a result of WWII measures and its end. Steel customers who pre-emptively ordered steel in preparation for the strike were expected to be
473:
On
February 15, an agreement to end the strike for 125,000 of the 750,000 steel workers, who worked for the five major steel companies ("Big Steel") was reached. It was agreed to end it on Sunday, February 17 on the basis of a 18½ cents/hour wage increase. This raised the base wage from 78¢/hour to
387:
to determine if increases in steel prices would be justified by
February 1, 1946. The fact finding board was expected to finish its report by February 10. Which conflicted with the union's expected strike date of January 14. Alongside this Truman also appealed for the union to delay its strike till
376:) filed with the government for a strike vote, covering their 750,000 members. The union called for a $ 2 a day wage increase, which was unreceptively received by steel companies. On November 28, the steel workers voted 5 to 1 in favor of striking if companies refused to provide the wage increase.
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advised Truman to seize the steel mills. This was based partially on the wide public support shown when the government seized oil refineries and a meatpacking plant in 1945, when they each faced strikes. Truman feared steel executive's might interfere and embarrass the government, so he refused.
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At one point before the settlement, Bowles, whose relative popularity was used by Truman, had threatened to resign after the agreement largely drawn by him was modified to be more accommodating to industry. However, he ultimately decided to stay on, and was only able to get a few changes to the
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The next day, ~550,000 workers had come to covered agreements, largely following the 18½ ¢ wage increase and returning to work that Monday. Most of the workers with the basic steel industry, 400,000 of the 452,000 basic steel workers, would be returning. Over the next two months, individual
597:
California, Massachusetts, New York, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and
391:
The union initially refused to delay the strike for the board. However, on
January 5, the union & company agreed to return to collective bargaining on January 10. Negotiations were extended to January 20, after which if an agreement was not made a strike would occur.
530:' employees in the steel industry, for those that earned less the $ 5,000 a year. By March 12, the steel industry had reached 83.6% capacity. That month the steel industry complained the $ 5 a ton increase in price was inadequate to account for the wage increase.
469:
The strike began on
January 21, 1946. 750,000 workers struck, running pickets in the cold outside the steel plants. It spanned 29 states shutting down nearly all plants within the country. It remains the biggest strike in US history.
1294:"Steel Fact Board Backs Pay Rise Of 18 c as 'Well Within Limits'; Report to President Says Also That Walkout Did Not Violate Contract--'Take Home' Figures Are Analyzed Price Aspect Left to Others Analysis of the Figures"
422:
Truman had proposed an hourly wage increase of 18½ cents. This differed from the original union demand of a 25¢/hour increase and industry initial offer of a 15¢/hour increase. The union accepted this proposed wage.
213:
The strike started on
January 21, 1946, after failed negotiations and fully ended by April, after the steel industry agreed to a wage increase of 18½ ¢ an hour for steel workers in individual agreements.
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announced it would be raising the wages of its 47,000 salaried and supervisor employees that had not been involved in the strike, which only involved production workers, as well.
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Reportedly at the time, the union wanted to exercise and test its power following the end of World War 2, while the companies were eager to try to break and destroy the union.
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By
February 23, steel had reached 25% output, in part due to the difficulty of fully restarting furnaces in order to reach full capacity.
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1047:"Decision is Sudden; a Handshake Seals Steel Strike Settlement; U.S. Steel, Union End Retroactivity Issue by 'Splitting Difference'
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agreements were made within the smaller companies, often following the set terms, till eventually all workers had returned.
785:"President Names Steel Fact Board, Asks Price Study; OPA Is Instructed to Find Whether Rises in Selling Levels Are 'Proper'
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17:
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wage increases barring greater concessions, after the planned $ 4 a ton increase became known to the steel industry.
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756:"Truman Discusses Speech with AFL; Outlines to Group His Talk Tonight on Pay and Prices-- Steel Strike Poll Asked"
967:"Scores of Areas Hit by Plant Closings; Premature Picketing Barred --Union Allows Maintenance Men to Enter Mills"
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1153:"Optimism Is Noted In Steel Industry; Smaller Concerns Expected to Be Active Producers This Week--Output Up 19"
384:
383:
On
December 31, Truman named a steel fact finding board in hopes of resolving the dispute. He also ordered the
1127:"Steel Announces Salary Increases; Supervisors Are Among 47,000 Who Will Get Rises on 'Pattern' of Union Pact"
813:"Steel Stocks Low in Face of Strike; Most Consumers Reported to Be on Hand-to-Mouth Basis as Reserves Dwindle"
1101:"More Steel Mills Grant Wage Rises; Companies in This and Other Areas Expect Workers Back Today on New Terms"
873:"Steel Production to Decline to 10%; Consumers Will Be Affected Severely if the Strike Lasts Beyond a Week"
560:
307:
290:
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Clashes at Plants Few: Center on
Maintenance of Idle Mills--Murray Goes to Pittsburgh as Fires Die"
523:
787:
Panel Reports by Feb. 10 But Strike Is Set for Jan. 14 and Postponement by Union Remains in Doubt"
438:
Earlier Bowle had predicted that the offer of $ 4 would prompt the steel industry to demand more.
547:
338:
926:"Caught in the Middle: The Seizure and Occupation of the Cudahy Brothers Company, 1944-1945"
899:"Truman to Seize Oil Plants Today; Port Here Paralyzed, 30,000 Strike; Oil Truce is Balked"
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was holding a White House conference between labor unions and business owners, the
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1179:"Truman Says His 18 c Pay Rise Proposal Applied Only to the Basic Steel Industry"
842:"750,000 Men Out; Arrival of Picket Lines Signals the Start of Big Steel Struggle
365:
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On March 4, around 250,000 steel workers were still on strike. On March 8, the
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628:
Brecher, Jeremy (2014). "Chapter 6 : The War and Post-War Strike Wave".
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Government allowance of $ 5 a ton increase in steel prices for steel industry
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unable to receive them in time, as the orders had led to large backlogs.
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414:"to destroy labor unions, to provoke strikes and economic chaos and to
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Further companies agreed to the terms on February 18. On February 19,
1075:"Work Delay Is Due; Steel Workers Hailing Settlement Of Their Strike"
1009:
725:
632:(Revised, expanded and updated ed.). Oakland, Calif: PM Press.
202:
union. It was a part of larger wave of labor disputes, known as the
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the American people through un-controlled profits and inflation..."
478:
of 9¼ cents for work conducted between January 1 and February 17.
198:
was a several months long strike of 750,000 steel workers of the
526:
approved matching wage increases of 18½ cents for all salaried '
482:
wage-price order due to the fighting for it by his loyal staff.
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415:
357:
For a later period when Truman did seize US steel mills, see
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Labour disputes and strikes in the aftermath of World War II
661:"Work Stoppages Caused by Labor Management Disputes in 1946"
994:"The Truman Administration and the Steel Strike of 1946"
710:"The Truman Administration and the Steel Strike of 1946"
1049:
Agreement Covers 125,000 Who Will Return to Job Monday"
537:
85:
Industry refusal to grant 25¢ an hour wage increase.
1245:"Week's Steel Operations Set of 83.6% of Capacity"
93:Industry wide 18½ ¢ an hour (~17%) wage increase.
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210:, and remains the largest strike in US history.
388:the board finished its report on February 10.
1343:Labor disputes led by the United Steelworkers
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959:
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1277:"U.S. Steel Computes Effects of Strike".
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430:Facing an impending strike in two days,
1212:"'White Collar' Pay Increased In Steel"
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406:and part of negotiations, charged in a
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410:interview that the industry intended,
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364:On October 29, 1945, while president
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385:Office of Price Administration (OPA)
1348:Labor disputes in the United States
1292:Loftus, Joseph A. (March 1, 1946).
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1338:1940s strikes in the United States
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930:The Wisconsin Magazine of History
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474:96½ ¢/hour, a ~17% wage change.
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1358:1946 labor disputes and strikes
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992:Bernstein, Barton J. (1966).
708:Bernstein, Barton J. (1966).
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204:US strike wave of 1945–1946
10:
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668:Bureau of Labor Statistics
561:List of US strikes by size
510:"Steel Strike in USA Ends"
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52:January 21, 1946
1333:1946 in the United States
512:-Official AP News archive
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462:-Official AP News archive
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924:Rees, Jonathan (1995).
548:Organized Labour portal
460:"Americas Steel Strike"
253:Steel strikes in the US
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345:Allegheny Technologies
277:U.S. Steel recognition
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372:(an affiliate of the
308:Memorial Day massacre
370:United Steel Workers
196:1946 US steel strike
35:1946 US steel strike
27:Industry-wide strike
18:1946 US Steel Strike
1159:. February 25, 1946
1133:. February 19, 1946
1107:. February 18, 1946
1081:. February 17, 1946
1055:. February 16, 1946
819:. December 17, 1945
402:, President of the
200:United Steelworkers
112:United Steelworkers
1298:The New York Times
1279:The New York Times
1251:. March 12, 1946.
1249:The New York Times
1216:The New York Times
1183:The New York Times
1157:The New York Times
1131:The New York Times
1105:The New York Times
1079:The New York Times
1053:The New York Times
973:. January 21, 1946
971:The New York Times
903:The New York Times
879:. January 21, 1946
877:The New York Times
850:. January 21, 1946
848:The New York Times
817:The New York Times
791:The New York Times
762:. October 30, 1945
760:The New York Times
579:On October 4, 1945
1281:. March 26, 1946.
1218:. March 9, 1946.
1185:. March 5, 1946.
905:. October 4, 1945
793:. January 1, 1946
639:978-1-60486-428-1
588:In December, 1945
556:1952 steel strike
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499:February 25, 1946
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432:Chester B. Bowles
359:1952 steel strike
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283:Pressed Steel Car
206:after the end of
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60:– April 1946
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1309:. Retrieved
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528:white collar
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304:Little Steel
212:
208:World War II
195:
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154:Harry Truman
138:Lead figures
29:
333:1980s–2020s
298:1930s–1970s
291:Great Steel
263:1800s–1920s
90:Resulted in
1327:Categories
1311:August 22,
1262:August 22,
1229:August 22,
1196:August 22,
1163:August 22,
1137:August 22,
1111:August 22,
1085:August 22,
1059:August 22,
977:August 22,
909:August 24,
883:August 22,
854:August 22,
823:August 22,
797:August 22,
766:August 22,
606:References
598:Wisconsin.
491:U.S. Steel
326:Nationwide
320:Nationwide
314:Nationwide
218:Background
56:1946-01-21
1306:0362-4331
1257:0362-4331
1224:0362-4331
1191:0362-4331
1018:0021-8723
942:0043-6534
734:0021-8723
269:Homestead
82:Caused by
534:See also
178:~750,000
72:Location
1026:1894347
950:4636567
742:1894347
630:Strike!
100:Parties
64:1946-04
62: (
54: (
1304:
1255:
1222:
1189:
1024:
1016:
948:
940:
740:
732:
636:
442:Strike
366:Truman
310:) 1937
167:Number
1022:JSTOR
946:JSTOR
738:JSTOR
664:(PDF)
567:Notes
416:mulct
1313:2023
1302:ISSN
1264:2023
1253:ISSN
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