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Working Class History

E99: Vietnam War strike wave, part 1

Jan 29, 2025
Jeremy Brecher, author of "Strike!", dives into the tumultuous labor landscape of the 1960s against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. He discusses how rising prices and stagnant wages fueled a wave of wildcat strikes, with workers prioritizing their needs over war support. Highlighting the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, he illuminates the intersection of labor and civil rights. Brecher also examines the early labor movement’s initial support for the war and the ensuing grassroots resistance, setting the stage for significant changes in worker activism.
39:16

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Grassroots movements during the Vietnam War led to a surge in wildcat strikes as workers sought better conditions despite union support for the war.
  • The intersection of the civil rights movement and labor struggles, exemplified by the Memphis sanitation strike, highlighted the necessity of solidarity among diverse worker groups.

Deep dives

The Rise of Grassroots Worker Movements

In the 1960s, widespread protests against the Vietnam War coincided with significant grassroots movements among workers who sought better wages and working conditions. While the official labor unions like the AFL-CIO largely supported the war, many workers felt disconnected from this narrative and began to organize locally around issues that affected them directly, leading to an increase in wildcat strikes. These strikes, often unapproved by union leadership, illustrated a growing discontent, especially among young workers who saw their workplaces as sites of authority and exploitation. As economic pressures mounted, exemplified by rising inflation, workers became increasingly vocal in their resistance, challenging both management practices and the established labor leadership's stance on the war and labor conditions.

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