10 | AUGUST 29 • 2024 J
N

L

abor is on the March!” Over 
the past few years, this 
union slogan from the 1930s 
could describe the current status 
of America’s Labor 
Movement, commonly 
referred to as just 
“Labor.” 
Last year, despite 
the strong job market 
and trend toward 
higher wages, over 
500,000 American 
workers walked off 
the job from their places of work 
in nearly 500 different strikes. 
This was the largest wave of union 
strikes in decades. 
A strike, a mass refusal to work 
at one’s place of employment until 
bargaining demands are met, is 
the single most powerful tool 
possessed by labor unions. It is a 
tool to be used judiciously as it has 

severe risks for both employers and 
employees. Workers risk their jobs 
and lose income every day they 
are off the job, while strikes may 
severely damage the company for 
which they work. Employers lose 
revenue and possible permanent 
loss of business. A union’s 
decision to strike cannot be taken 
without serious and thoughtful 
consideration.
Strikes were held in a variety 
of industries in 2023. The largest 
was that of 160,000 writers and 
performers, the folks who work in 
the film industry, radio and TV, 
and develop commercials, video 
games and other programming. 
These members of the Screen 
Actors Guild-American Federation 
of Television and Radio Artists 
(SAG-AFTRA was formed in 2012 
when the two unions merged) held 
a four-month strike. You may have 

noticed the many reruns on TV 
while they walked the picket line. 
Closer to home, the United 
Automobile Workers of America 
(UAW) struck the former “Big 3” 
auto makers: Ford, General Motors 
and Chrysler, the latter now a 
subsidiary of Stellantis. Thousands 
of UAW members walked off 
the job at various factories in 
Metro Detroit, as well as at other 
plants around the country. After 
a month-long strike, the UAW 
negotiated a contract that included 
extensive gains in wages and 
benefits.

With a relatively strong national 
economy and general labor 
shortage, it is a good time for 
unions to act. The automotive 
manufacturers, for one example, 
have had record profits over the 
last few years. The UAW sought 
to regain lost benefits and wage 

increases that 
were lost in 
the “Great 
Recession” 
of 2008 amid 
GM and 
Chrysler bankruptcies. Its strike 
was extremely successful for 
UAW members who received 
large increases in wages. Whether 
this will have a negative effect 
on the future profitability and 
development of the car companies 
is yet to be determined.

In other instances, the 
threat of a strike led 
to benefit and wage 
gains. For example, 
United Parcel 
Services (UPS) 
is organized by 
the International 
Brotherhood of 
Teamsters union. 
UPS is one of the 
world’s largest delivery 
firms, essential for 
businesses and modern retail 
home-delivery of goods. Over 
340,000 Teamsters employed at 
UPS threatened to strike, which 
would have caused a good measure 
of economic chaos. Negotiations 
between the union and the 
company resulted in large gains 
for employees at UPS represented 
by the Teamsters, and a strike was 
avoided.
It appears that the trend toward 
such labor actions continues in 
2024. For example, 5,000 workers 
at 12 different Anheuser-Busch 
breweries represented by the 
Teamsters overwhelming voted 
to strike the company if contract 
negotiations were not successful. 
Beer consumers around the 
U.S. would suffer if such a labor 
action were held, but there was 
a negotiated settlement. Beer 
drinkers rejoiced. 
Although strike activity 
increased in 2023 and union 

On the March 

A brief history of America’s Labor Movement 
and its Jewish leaders.

OUR COMMUNITY

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

In 1915, the 
Amalgamated Clothing 
Workers went on strike. 
Their objective was the 
abolition of the sweat-
shop and home work, 
and a reduction of the 
12-hour workday.

COURTESY OF THE JACOB RADER MARCUS CENTER OF THE 

AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES/B’NAI B’RITH.

