It seems almost unthinkable that San Francisco organized labor should find it necessary to deny such motives as these. Yet certain leaders of the attack upon us which has forced this strike action have sought for their selfish ends to prey upon the patriotism of the people, to prejudice the city and the nation against organized labor by false declarations that the present situation is due to "red" or revolutionary impulses. Just the most casual glance at conditions proves how untrue these statements are. In specific discussion of the two factors listed above as often considered a part of the term "general strike," let us point out:

In further discussion of factor "B" permit us to point out that it is exactly to support our traditional American legal and democratic institutions that these strikes have been thrust upon us.

What are the ends to be attained in this strike movement?

Correction of wages, hours or working conditions? Only in specific cases and in reference to certain definite union groups. The overwhelming cause which has forced San Francisco's men and women to leave their work is the unified and almost overwhelming attack of certain employer groups upon labor's rights to organize in their own unions and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.

The present acute situation is this. The national breakdown known as the depression forced upon all America a new system for the production of the nation's goods and services, a system wherein the old disorganized, personally competitive businesses and procedure of employers had to be discarded for methods of unity and co-operation by the employers in each industry. Anti-trust protections and fair trade practices which were inherently a part of the old, personally competitive system had to go by the board.

Now this placed in the hands of business leaders and industry owners a vast new power which, unchecked, in irresponsible hands, would have resulted in an overwhelming and unbearable penalty against the nation as a whole for the advantage of the few, to consumers in prices pyramided under monopoly, to labor in wage levels crushed down by unified monopolistic action. To prevent top-heavy development, the government has planned a system of checks and balances in the new industrial scheme: protection of consumers through federal institutions in their behalf, and protection of the rights of labor by actively supporting the workers' rights to organize into trades unions to bargain with united employers.

Thus the National Industrial Recovery act, the legal statutes of the United States under which practically ALL employers of America now operate, affirms the rights of unionization in words which no intelligent and fair- minded person can mistake.

But this legal right of organization the employers in many industries have flatly refused to accept: this right the government of the United States, beset by many problems in a changing world of political and economic turmoil, has not yet been able to force upon the recalcitrants among the employers.

Even more, they have endeavored to use their own new, huge unified power to destroy the labor organizations which previously had been in existence. It is in defense against this catastrophe that the substantial and responsible labor unions of America are being forced to take action, action which now centers in the San Francisco strike series.

Do not mistake us. In San Francisco there are many fine employers--in some industries they are unanimous--whose relations with organized labor have been most cordial, and who are as eager as any in America to see that the legal rights of the workers are not abridged.

They, like labor, are innocent victims of the present emergency. They have our sympathy and our most cordial regard. But it is an emergency in which labor may protect itself in only one way--by strike action--and in this action the fair employer, like the worker himself, must suffer. There is no alternative except the passive destruction of the American labor movement.

May we also point out that it is not labor, but instead the leaders of the anti-labor crusade, who are flagrant in their disregard for the welfare of the citizens of the San Francisco community. Many of these anti-labor employers are not even residents here: they have far-flung interests throughout America and for some their immense holdings stretch throughout the world. Some are not even American citizens.

To such employers the San Francisco catastrophe is merely an incident in their drive to break the power of organized labor. The welfare or distress of the citizens of this city is of no importance. They are quite willing for San Francisco to make any sacrifice if their command over their workers is to be strengthened through the destruction of this part of the labor movement.

Let us reiterate: The unions in this crisis are doing everything in their power to see that no vital service shall be denied the community. Every union man in San Francisco is a citizen as well as a worker; we, like those not in the unions, have families and homes depending upon the continuance of the intricate machinery of production and distribution which is vital to city life.

The union man, like other citizens, seeks to protect this system. He merely happens now to be in the front line, buffeted by the full force of an un-American attack on the American principles of organization and collective bargaining. He pleads for your support.

Return to the Museum's General Strike Page.