1892 New Orleans general strike

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

1892 New Orleans general strike

Role / Field:

A pivotal 1892 labor action in New Orleans, uniting workers against hardship.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

The New Orleans general strike was a general strike in the U.S. city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, that began on November 8, 1892. Despite appeals to racial hatred, black and white workers remained united. The general strike ended on November 12, with unions gaining most of their original demands.

Key Developments & Impact

Early in 1892, streetcar conductors in New Orleans won a shorter workday and the preferential closed shop. This victory drove many New Orleans workers to seek assistance from the American Federation of Labor (AFL). As many as 30 new labor unions had been organized in the city before the summer of 1892. By late summer, 49 unions belonged to the AFL. The unions established a central labor council known as the Workingmen's Amalgamated Council that represented more than 30,000 workers.

Enduring Legacy

Three racially integrated unions—the Teamsters, the Scalesmen, and the Packers—made up what came to be called the "Triple Alliance." Many of the workers belonging to the unions of the Triple Alliance were African American. On October 24, 1892, between 2,000 and 3,000 members of the Triple Alliance struck to win a 10-hour work day, overtime pay, and the preferential...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1892: 1892 Milestone — city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, that began on November 8, 1892.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: 1892 New Orleans general strike

True or False: “The New Orleans general strike was primarily motivated by disputes over wages alone.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While wages were a factor, the strike was also driven by demands for shorter workdays and the establishment of closed-shop union preferences.

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