1938 New York City truckers strike

1938 New York City truckers' strike
DateSeptember 15, 1938 (1938-09-15) – October 2, 1938 (1938-10-02)
Location
United States
Caused byContract expiration
Goals
  • 40 Hr. Week
  • No reduction in weekly pay
Resulted inUnion Victory:
  • Reduction to 44-hour week
  • All previous benefits & protections
Parties

Teamsters (IBT) Union

Initial:
    • NYC Teamsters
      • Local 807
      • Local 282
      • Local 816
Later (Sept 26):
    • Teamsters' Joint Council No. 18 of New Jersey
      • Local 560
      • Local 641
      • Local 617
      • Local 136
      • Local 478
      • Local 469
    • Motor & Bus Terminal Checker Platform & Office Workers
      • Local 21
      • Local 512
Allies:
Number
30,000–35,000 Strikers
Previous contract: 47 hour week, $56.50 a week

The New York City truckers' strike started on September 15, 1938, as an unsanctioned strike by some of NYC's Teamsters members, with union leadership initially opposing it.[1] It was caused by a contract expiration, demanding lower hours at the same weekly pay and by its end somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 strikers were directly involved.[2]

On September 25, it was officially sanctioned by a union vote at the Mecca Temple by union Locals 807, 282, and 816.[3] According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was one of the largest US strikes of 1938.[2]

The strike ended in October as a partial union victory, they won lower hours at the same weekly pay & benefits, but it was not lowered to the demanded maximum 40-hour week but instead to a maximum 44-hour week limit.[4]

  1. ^ "TRUCKING IS TIED UP BY 'OUTLAW' STRIKE; Insurgent Members of A. F. L. Union Halt Most Interstate Shipments in City Food Shipments Affected Limited to One Local". The New York Times. September 16, 1938. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  2. ^ a b Peterson, Florence (May 1939). "ANALYSIS OF STRIKES IN 1938" (PDF). Monthly Labor Review. Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor: 4, 5–6, 11.
  3. ^ "Drivers accept terms while strike goes on" (PDF). Socialist Appeal. October 1, 1938.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :22 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).