Coeur d'Alene Strike (1892)
Mon Jul 11, 1892
Image: Coeur d'Alene Mining District Idaho. Federal troop encampment in Wallace, Idaho in 1892. [zinnedproject.org]
On this day in 1892, violence broke out between strikers and scabs during the Coeur d'Alene Strike when union leaders discovered they had been infiltrated by a Pinkerton agent who had been providing information to the mine owners.
The miners had gone on strike to demand that a living wage of $3.50 per day be paid to every man working underground, both skilled and unskilled. This solidarity between unskilled and skilled labor (a principle known as industrial unionism) was notable for the era.
On the morning of July 11th, gunfire erupted between striking workers and scabs working in the mines. The "battle" was won by the striking miners after they dynamited one of the mills, destroying the building and crushing one non-union worker inside. The rest of the strikebreakers promptly surrendered and were taken prisoner.
Later that evening, striking workers placed explosives beneath an ore mill and gave its manager the choice between firing the strikebreakers or having his mill destroyed. He chose the former. Before the day was over, six people were killed and dozens were wounded.
Following this violence, martial law was declared in Coeur d'Alene and the town was under military rule by the Idaho National Guard for four months.
Hundreds of miners were illegally detained without hearings or formal charges. The event was disastrous for the local miners' union. In an effort to reorganize the workforce, the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) was founded the following year.
- Date: 1892-07-11
- Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, www.zinnedproject.org.
- Tags: #Labor.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org