Winston-Salem in Forsyth County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
R.J.R. Labor Strikes
Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, October 15, 2016
1. R.J.R. Labor Strikes Marker
Inscription.
R.J.R. Labor Strikes. . The R.J.R. Factory 64 is one of the local sites where large labor strikes occurred. The first took place in 1943 after a factory worker died on the job. Several hundred female workers, primarily African-American, began an immediate strike that spread throughout most of Reynolds' factories, with the CIO-affiliated Local 22 serving as the employees' bargaining agent. A second strike took place in 1947. Subsequently, the company provided for wage increases, job security, vacations, and grievance procedures for workers. Some of the most prominent African-American women leaders in the strike included Viola Brown, Christine Gardner, Etta Hobson, Velma Hopkins, Ruby Jones, Theodosia Simpson, and Moranda Smith.
The R.J.R. Factory 64 is one of the local sites where large labor strikes occurred. The first took place in 1943 after a factory worker died on the job. Several hundred female workers, primarily African-American, began an immediate strike that spread throughout most of Reynolds' factories, with the CIO-affiliated Local 22 serving as the employees' bargaining agent. A second strike took place in 1947. Subsequently, the company provided for wage increases, job security, vacations, and grievance procedures for workers. Some of the most prominent African-American women leaders in the strike included Viola Brown, Christine Gardner, Etta Hobson, Velma Hopkins, Ruby Jones, Theodosia Simpson, and Moranda Smith.
Erected 2014 by Winston-Salem Historic Marker Program.
Location. 36° 5.986′ N, 80° 14.272′ W. Marker is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in Forsyth County. It is at the intersection of North Research Parkway and Power Plant Circle, on the left when traveling north on North Research Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winston Salem NC 27101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont and specifically in Piedmont Triad. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, October 15, 2016
2. R.J.R. Labor Strikes Marker
Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, October 15, 2016
3. R.J.R. Labor Strikes Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 973 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 15, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on October 16, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
