Rededication of Little Steel Strike Historical Marker

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Please join us for the rededication of the historical marker commemorating the Little Steel Strike in Youngstown, at the Youngstown Historical Center (commonly known as the steel museum), 151 West Wood Street (corner of Wood and Elm), at *10 am, Wednesday, May 30*.  Here's a little more information on the Little Steel Strike and why it matters today. -- Sherry Linkon

May 26th marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most important events in American labor history: the start of the Little Steel Strike.  When the Steelworkers Organizing Committee formed in 1936, U.S. Steel agreed to negotiate a union contract, but Republic and Youngstown Sheet & Tube refused.  Workers went on strike against these "little" steel companies, here in Youngstown and in South Chicago.  That Memorial Day, when hundreds of striking workers and their wives and children marched from a rally to the plant gates at the Republic Steel plant in South Chicago, guards shot into the crowd.  10 striking workers were killed and many
others, including women and children, were injured that day.  A month later, more violence broke out here in Youngstown, and two workers were killed.

The Little Steel Companies won that round, but a few years later, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the companies had to recognize the steelworkers' union.  This led to dramatic improvements in the wages, benefits, and working conditions of steelworkers.  Equally important, the success of the steelworkers' union meant growth and prosperity for the Mahoning Valley.  As their wages increased, steelworkers could afford to buy new homes in the suburbs, so Boardman, Austintown, and other areas grew dramatically during the 40s and 50s.  Workers could buy second cars and home appliances, feeding further economic growth in the auto industry and other types of manufacturing.  Steelworkers could afford to send their children to college.

    The Ohio Historical Society and the United Steelworkers of America understood how important this event was.  In 1985 they sponsored a historical marker, which was erected in the median at the intersection of Federal Plaza and Wick Avenue.  When Federal Plaza was remodeled a few years ago, the marker was removed.  Next Wednesday, it will be rededicated outside of the Youngstown Historical Center.  It will join the museum's exhibits on the history of the iron and steel industries
and its rich archive of oral history interviews, labor newspapers, Youngstown Sheet and Tube photographs, and other materials to help us remember the history that helped make the Mahoning Valley what it is today.

    But the struggle for worker rights is not merely a thing of the past.  Just last week, President Bush and Congressional democrats reached agreement on legislation that will, for the first time, incorporate workers' right to organize into international trade agreements.  Congress is also considering the Employee Free Choice Act,
a law that would protect American workers' right to organize.  The struggles fought by previous generations brought prosperity to American workers for many years.  Today, those battles are being fought all over again.