An Eight-Hour Day Or a Big Strike,” the 1903 Operative Millers’, Nailers’, Packers’
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY “An Eight-Hour Day or a Big Strike,” The 1903 Operative Millers’, Nailers’, Packers’, and Loaders’ Strike in the Minneapolis Flour Mills by Shannon Elizabeth Murray A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY CALGARY, ALBERTA SEPTEMBER, 2008 © Shannon Elizabeth Murray 2008 ISBN: 978-0-494-44650-8 ABSTRACT On September 21, 1903, men in the operative millers’, nailers’ and packers’, and loaders’ unions left the Minneapolis flour mills where they worked. On the 22nd, they returned as strikers walking a picket line, to support the eight-hour workday for the loaders. The three unions united under the International Union of Flour and Cereal Mill Employees (IUFCME) in 1902, and this was the first test of their solidarity. Throughout the strike divisions like age, birthplace, marital status, wage, and skill among the men were clear. The millwrights’ union, also IUFCME members, did not strike. The men who were married and had ties to the area were the most militant during the strike. The mill owners, members of the Citizens’ Alliance (CA), fought to undermine worker solidarity and establish the open shop. The strike failed, resulting in a strengthened CA and an open shop principle in Minneapolis. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank my advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Jameson, for her guidance and aid during my research and writing period. Also thanks to Dr. Kurt Hackemer, whose guidance and supervision during my undergraduate career has led me to where I am today.
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