Oakland in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
General Strike!
By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 18, 2019
1. General Strike! Marker
In December 1946, management refusal
to recognize a union of retail clerks in
stores adjacent to Latham Square led
to a general strike involving 100,000
workers in Alameda County. Called a
"work holiday” by labor leaders, the
spirited action expressed the frustration
of women returning to their traditional
jobs following World War II, and the
anger of veterans that the democracy
they fought for overseas did not extend
to their home workplaces.
Picket lines spilled off the sidewalks
into Telegraph Avenue, Broadway, and
Latham Square. The Oakland Voters
League emerged from the geeral strike,
and backed by labor and the NAACP, it
took four of five City Council seats in the
spring 1947 election. Retail clerks gained
union recognition shortly thereafter.
Erected 2016 by City of Oakland.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions.
Location. 37° 48.336′ N, 122° 16.234′ W. Marker is in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. Marker is at the intersection of Telegraph
By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 10, 2020
2. General Strike! Marker - wide view
The General Strike! marker is the middle one of the three visible here.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Uptown Saturday Night (here, next to this marker); Crossroads (here, next to this marker); Latham Square (here, next to this marker); The Lathams (here, next to this marker); Latham Memorial Fountain Unveiled (a few steps from this marker); 1946 General Strike (within shouting distance of this marker); Oakland City Hall (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of College of California (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. 1946 Oakland General Strike (LocalWiki). (Submitted on November 21, 2020.)
2. 1946 Oakland Gemeral Strike (Wikipedia). (Submitted on November 21, 2020.)
3. We Called it a Work Holiday: The 1946 Oakland General Strike (UCB IRLE). (Submitted on November 21, 2020.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 38 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California.
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