Today in labor history October 05

[Omaha Steve]

October 05

A strike by set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, Calif. when scabs try to cross the picket line. The incident is still identified as “Hollywood Black Friday” - 1945

Polish Solidarity union founder Lech Walesa wins the Nobel Peace Prize - 1983

[pnorman]

1. Here's an article that covers that "riot".

Class Struggle in Hollywood: Moguls, Mobsters, Stars, Reds, and Trade Unionists: http://tinyurl.com/28wjzz

The "strike-breakers" mentioned there were largely from a rival (and gangster-led) union. Those leaders eventually went to the slammer, but at that time, they were regarded by the media as "100 percent patriots". No surprise there.

pnorman
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