Draft:Works Progress Administration strikes
The Works Progress Administration strikes were a series of strikes in 1939 to protest the defunding of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) imposed by the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act (ERAA). The strikes were unsuccessful.
In early 1939, the WPA office in Minneapolis fired over 900 women, defending their decision by saying that women could work for the Aid to Dependent Children. However, most women did not qualify to work there, and those that did still would have major income losses during the application and hiring process. Firings by the WPA continued until May of 1939, when 1500 women still employed by the WPA took a one-day strike. On June 2, 5000 workers marched in Minneapolis demanding the reinstatement of fired workers. Both the one-day strike and the march were unsuccessful. The ERAA came into effect on July 1st. 1.35 Million employees were fired, and the remaining had their pay slashed. Nearly 500,000 workers nationwide went on strike as a response.
WPA administrator Linus Glotzbach declared that anyone who failed to report to work by July 10, would be fired and replaced. The strike continued. 90% of project were closed in Minneapolis, and 50% in St. Paul. Picket lines formed quickly, as strikebreakers began attacking the strikers. On July 14, without any provocation, the Minneapolis Police Department began opening fire on the strikers, killing one and injuring 24 others. Minneapolis mayor George E. Leach and governor Harold Stassen did not want to negotiate with the strikers. They argued that since the WPA was a federal project, they had no part in it.
Glotzbach and Stassen would eventually meet with strikers, and an agreement was made. The strikers were re-instated with decreased wages. FBI infiltration resulted in hundreds of strikers being arrested on felony charges regardless.