East Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Steelworkers Organize in the Southeast Side
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, July 17, 2026
1. Steelworkers Organize in the Southeast Side Marker
Long hours, low wages, and unfair policies prevailed as the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, or SWOC, reached out to workers in 1936. While US Steel, the industry giant, signed a contract with SWOC in March 1937, other smaller companies or 'Little Steel' refused to recognize the union. On May 26, 1937 workers began a strike against these companies. Tensions mounted as Republic Steel attempted to break the strike. A few days later, on May 30, the Memorial Day Massacre occurred.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is May 26, 1937.
Location. 41° 40.973′ N, 87° 32.393′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the East Side. It is at the intersection of South Avenue O and East 117th Street, on the right when traveling north on South Avenue O. This marker is affixed to the east side of the Memorial Day Massacre Sculpture on the grounds of the Chicago Fire Department Engine 104 station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11641 S Avenue O, Chicago IL 60617, United
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Regionally, this marker is in Illinois’ Calumet Region. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: MartyrsHeroesUnionists (here, next to this marker); About the Sculpture (here, next to this marker); National Historic Site Memorial Day Massacre (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named MartyrsHeroesUnionists (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Illinois-Indiana Boundary Marker (approx. 1.9 miles away); East Side Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Castle #30 - Whiting, IN (approx. 2.1 miles away in Indiana); Whiting Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away in Indiana). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
Also see . . . Steel Workers Organizing Committee.
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, July 17, 2026
2. Steelworkers Organize in the Southeast Side Marker in context
The marker plaque is affixed to the base of the Memorial Day Massacre Sculpture.
SWOC suffered its first defeat when it attempted to organize the 186,000 workers laboring for "Little Steel"Republic Steel, Bethlehem Steel, Youngstown Sheet and Tube, National Steel, Inland Steel and American Rolling Mills. Worker sentiment for a strike was strong, leading to a walkout in 1937 but SWOC was financially exhausted and had not adequately planned for a protracted dispute. Unlike U.S. Steel, the companies of Little Steel were willing to use violence, espionage and large numbers of strikebreakers to crush the union. The worst incidence of violence occurred in Chicago Illinois, when 10 people were killed and 30 wounded during the Memorial Day Massacre. At least six other people, all union members or supporters, were killed before the strike ended later that summer.(Submitted on July 17, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
