philadelphia transit strike philadelphia transit strike strike white transit workers philadelphia lasted august august strike triggered decision prolonged pressure federal government view significant labor shortages allow black employees hold non jobs previously reserved white workers august black employees trained trial run fact white workers start massive strike strike paralyzed public transport system philadelphia days bringing city war production favor allowing promotions black workers positions qualified opposed strike union unable persuade white employees return work august provisions president authorized secretary war control charge operations days unsuccessful negotiations strike leaders issued order striking workers return work august refusing comply fired stripped military draft denied job availability certificates duration war ultimatum proved effective august strike ended returned work black workers pending promotions non jobs triggered strike allowed assume jobs strike despite considerable tensions city philadelphia remained calm major violence city newspapers strike public large opposed strike strike leaders including arrested violating anti strike act played active role federal government institute fair hiring practices years strike maintaining calm strike strike received considerable attention national media philadelphia transit strike high profile instances federal government act passed president roosevelt veto background union official entry united_states world war december philadelphia major industrial war production centers philadelphia regarded second largest war production center country period black population city grew substantially tensions predominantly white population began increase ran city huge public transportation system including buses time strike carried million people day thousand strong workforce included black employees black workers restricted holding jobs allowed serve positions reserved white employees early august black employees started employment practices allow upgrading black workers prestigious jobs hitherto reserved whites efforts rebuffed management claimed current union contract contained clause prohibiting significant change employment practices customs union approval contract said race leader proved equally claimed authorized union members consider request allow promotions black employees federal involvement black employees enlisted help started lobbying federal authorities particularly intervene created executive order president charged ensuring non discrimination employment practices government contractors initially fairly weak agency authority significantly strengthened new executive order required government contracts non discrimination clause war progressed manpower shortages getting severe january requested white uses aware pool black employees seeking upgrading asked allow hiring black employees vacant positions refused citing customs clause union contract complaint matter landed headed time series unsuccessful attempts convince management union leadership change stance allow promotions black employees non jobs eventually conceded willing government request employ provided acceptable fellow workers leadership particularly resisted november issued directive requiring end employment practices allow blacks hold non jobs directive required review job applications june earlier employment abuses based racial discrimination union immediately protested requested public hearing took place december hearing union tried argument hiring blacks applied non positions june denied adversely affect rights presently employed white workers rejected argument pointing rights begin employee actually hired particular job december issued second directive reinforcing attempt pressure contacted virginia congressman time chair smith known views eager possibly destroy quickly scheduled hearing meantime union informed refused comply order management told ross given union position comply directive hearing smith committee took place january hearing inconclusive ross position union representatives falling customs clause claims issues white workers hearing predicted trouble unrest promotions black employees allowed going accept blacks fellow workers going work anybody believe let try petition signed workers presented hearing read gentlemen white employees refuse work operators station inter union struggle january congressional hearing ross delayed enforcement directive await outcome upcoming union elections contract february union election called march apart opposed promotions black employees unions competing right represent workers affiliate motor coach employees america affiliate said allow promotions black employees stayed silent matter leadership tried campaign race issue union elections topic overshadowed issues details new contract bitter campaign won union elections receiving votes unions combined time elections white workers perceived contract issue important promising attractive terms consider promotions black employees realistic possibility despite victory white workers black employees remained largely negotiations new contract dragged absence contract company continued resist implementing immediate run strike view growing labor shortages july war manpower commission important decision ruling hiring male employees country uses time uses followed strict anti discrimination employment practices management finally gave week posted notices available skilled positions open applicants regardless race company accepted black applicants uses ranks train training place late july start taking lines august impending trial run black finally triggered strike news spread resentment white workers began grow bulletin boards urging non compliance new policy petition circulated calling strike protest job upgrades black employees meetings called strike discuss plan action played active role meetings meeting july announced day white workers arrived representatives warned impending trouble company management ignored warnings maintaining fear events strike start strike august buses philadelphia stopped running strike blocked access vehicles advised arriving workers strike noon august entire transportation system paralyzed veteran white organized member strike steering committee main leaders strike ousted union boss key strike leader end day held large meeting attended employees outside street racial rhetoric escalating meeting declared driving white man job said belong roadway declared strike strictly black white issue response strike interpreted contemporary observers later historians supporting strike chairman company stopped asked workers return work subsequently suggested temporarily suspend non discrimination order brought pile printed suspension announcement offices officials refused approve suspension order suspension distributed morning august officials immediately shut high speed lines strike spread instructed company stop selling tickets left open allowed use rallying points coordinating centers activities company cancelled regularly scheduled meeting executive committee response strike discussed refused join radio broadcast urging return work officials denounced strike pleaded employees resume work success city mayor closed alcohol selling establishments effort prevent drunken crowds governor followed suit closed state liquor stores area city deployed police force extra police officers posted major intersections vital points black civic groups worked maintain calm black people philadelphia distributed posters black sections city read heads treat people treated strike continued august members initiated work movement quickly forced strike leaders supporters end day head wrote president roosevelt jurisdiction situation president intervene representatives reached similar conclusion need president intervention day military takeover roosevelt administration felt needed act quickly stop strike war plants philadelphia reported rates workforce strike causing significant damage city war production military reported delays delivery fighter planes radar equipment numerous items rear admiral complained strike significantly slowed war production area delay day victory strike negatively affecting america image abroad particularly europe fighting nazi_germany freedom racial justice germany japan use instance racial unrest propaganda purposes official reaction white_house somewhat delayed president roosevelt absence time warship way hawaii islands august fifth seizure order president roosevelt authorized secretary war control major general head army charge operations acted quickly control situation posted president order announced army hoped avoid troops try rely local state police extent possible announced intention hiring order august mistakenly believing government agreed demands declared end strike mistake quickly discovered voted early hours august continue strike august limited transportation service resumed largely day progressed staff warned severe penalties provided disruption war production subject fine year prison prospect real united_states attorney general started inquiry possible violations federal laws strike organizers august strike committee voted continue strike view possible smith act penalties told workers minds follow committee chose maneuver worked strike continued saturday august patience exhausted moved army troops city announced operate idle vehicles ride guards active vehicles plea support war effort kill germans troops drive transit vehicles philadelphia later august issued ultimatum posted workers given deadline august resume work refused fired refused job availability certificates duration war ages lose military draft obtained federal strike leaders quickly arrested finally told followers return work monday august government demanded expressed regret actions strike strike essentially sunday august workers signed cards return work monday monday august normal operations resumed rate significantly lower typical work day strike strike ended dropped rolls immediately drafted military actions local government enhanced police presence city strike helped calm restrained approach police officers generally won praise sides policemen seen sympathetic striking white workers administration philadelphia republican mayor seen quietly sympathetic strike mayor samuel member board directors avoided attempts refused meeting board directors discuss crisis leaders mayor denied police protection officials willing travel city advocate end strike samuel refused grant air time representatives wanted radio plea end strike august mayor declined explanation request permission send sound trucks black neighborhoods broadcast appeals calm city black population felt disappointed actions local administration public reaction incidents city philadelphia remained calm strike despite considerable fears race riots major violence start strike incidents vandalism store window smashing police arrested people blacks episode white motorists drove car black neighborhood stopping warning shot year old black boy received non critical injuries visible episode unrest came black war factory worker brother army threw shouting liberty lot arrested sent magistrate psychiatric evaluation large calm prevailed major violence deaths critical injuries public public opinion media city overwhelmingly city newspapers ran editorials denouncing strike perceived harmful war effort number editorials racial nature strike letters editor condemned strike radio stations city denounced strike national press new_york_times wrote hard find history american labor strike damage base purpose wall_street_journal editorial condemned strike stated powers exercised government ending strike justified war time conditions los_angeles_times chicago_tribune denouncing strike tried blame causing affiliated accused roosevelt administration acting slowly support critical strike public necessarily support cause equal employment opportunities black workers public opinion poll conducted philadelphia strike showed slim majority city population felt blacks hired significant majority opposed having strike issue directed anger federal government accused refusing listen legitimate complaints white workers view white conservative politicians nationally august senator georgia leaders conservative coalition congress gave seventy minute speech senate floor blaming causing strike russell finished speech calling dangerous force existence united_states today newspapers south blamed incident roosevelt administration lady savannah news claiming episode caused persistent efforts force social equality american people aftermath starting august resumed normal schedule troops remained philadelphia week half rode guards vehicles encountered problems seven black resumed training withdrew voluntarily duties witness minister conflicted work schedule august finally agreed favorable contact approved june august returned control public transportation network subsequent integration black employees workforce proceeded trouble december black operators attractive new union contract helped quell remaining discontent white workers year company black employees working variety positions including drivers later blamed management intentionally dragging feet contract approved late june claimed management hoped undermine position workers possibly favor aware forbade strikes war production contract initiated contract strike union tossed analysis situation shared later historians particularly historian largely negative view company role conflict concluded management overtly reacted strike tried exploit situation racist attitudes white workers purposes leaders strike including charged federal court thirty indicted later federal grand jury convened august heard testimony months grand jury returned inconclusive findings report stated striking workers knew strike start blamed escalating situation detail activities report critical response strike inadequate ineffective government dropped charges defendants march pleading receiving fine labor historian observed strike demonstrated profound racial divided working class south nation brief philadelphia transit strike significant negative impact war effort resulting loss million work hours war plants estimated philadelphia strike cost nation war production equivalent flying fortresses destroyers later characterized strike expensive racial dispute world war strike exposed limitations power possess final authority enforce decisions executive intervention president resolution dispute possible strike demonstrated combination black activism particularly federal policies able break long standing racial barriers employment
Philadelphia transit strike of 1944