Seattle Union Record--Voice of the Labor Movement

Owned by the Seattle Central Labor Council, the Union Record became a daily newspaper in 1918 and provided crucial support for the general strike in 1919.

Crowds gather at the intersection of 7th and Union on February 6, 1919, the first morning of the strike.

These may not have been strikers. Many of the men wear suits rather than working clothes. They may have been awaiting the publication of the Seattle Star, the first newspaper to resume publishing.

Serving food to strikers

With cooks, waiters, and waitresses supporting the strike and restaurants closed, the General Strike Committee organized food service at union halls throughout the city. This photo may have been taken at Longshoreman's Hall

Strikers stockpile groceries in preparation for the city shutdown.

Anna Louse Strong

Strong's now famous editorial in the Seattle Union Record two days before the strike began inspired the labor movement and pointed out the truly revolutionary potential that the general strike held.

Labor Temple/ Seattle Central Labor Council

The Central Labor Council authorized the General Strike. The General Strike Committee used the Labor Temple as strike headquarters.

Shipyard workers at Skinner and Eddy shipyard at Pier 36, 1919

Skinner and Eddy employed a majority of the nearly 30,000 shipyard workers in Seattle

Mayor Ole Hanson and City Hall

Hanson denounced the strike and threatened to declare martial law. He ordered police to prepare for violence and round up radicals.

Deputies handed weapons

Poised to put down anything that looked like an insurrectionist threat, police were heavily armed and on full alert.

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Seattle Star

Usually labor friendly, the Star denounced the General Strike in bold headlines. Address: 1309 7th Ave.

IWW leaflet calls for all workers to join the General Strike

IWW leaflet calls for revolution

Police attack meeting of Socialists and IWWs

Three weeks before the General Strike, police officers broke up a meeting of 3,000 who had gathered to protest US intervention in the Russian Civil War

Police raid Cooperative Food Products Association

When the union-owned grocery co-op extended credit to striking shipyard workers, the police raided the CFPA offices

IWW picnic Seattle July 1919

With much of its leadership in jail, the IWW rallied support for "Class War Prisoners" at this picnic held six months after the General Strike and four months before the Centralia shootout

IWW hall wrecked by sailors in 1913 Potlatch riot

211 Occidental Ave

Damage to IWW headquarters 1913

Socialist Party office looted by sailors 1913 Potlatch riot

The Socialist Party used this old Presbyterian Church on Olive as one of two Seattle offices.

Mob attacks IWW printer

At this site, now part of Pike Place Market, in January 1918 a mob destroyed the presses of H.C. Piggott Printing Company

Free Tom Mooney mass meeting at Dreamland Pavillion

he campaign to free Tom Mooney helped set the stage for the Seattle General Strike. 4,000 workers attended this protest meeting Feb.22, 1918

Longshoremen support the strike

The ILA, with more than 4,000 members in the Puget Sound, voted to join the strike

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21---Meat-Cutter-and-Butche

Japanese Labor Association supports strike

This building at 204 5th Ave S. marks the site of the Japanese Labor Association which supported the General Strike

UW President Henry Suzzallo

Suzzallo tried to keep UW students and faculty from supporting the strike

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IWW members Centralia 1919_UWDigital.jpg