1937 Lewiston–Auburn shoe strike facts for kids
The Lewiston–Auburn shoe strike happened in 1937 in the cities of Lewiston, Maine and Auburn, Maine. Many workers in shoe factories, mostly from French-Canadian families, stopped working. They wanted better pay, shorter work hours, improved working conditions, and the right to have a union.
Contents
What Was the Shoe Strike About?
The strike began on March 25, 1937. Workers walked off their jobs, demanding important changes. Soon after the strike started, the factory owners offered a 10% pay raise. However, the workers said no, as they wanted more than just a pay increase.
Thousands Join the Strike
By early April, a large number of workers had joined the strike. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people, including both skilled and unskilled workers, were on strike. This showed how many people felt strongly about their demands.
The "Red Wednesday" Clash
On April 21, workers and union leaders tried to march across the South Bridge. This bridge connects Lewiston's "Little Canada" neighborhood to Auburn. Police officers and workers clashed, meaning they fought. Many women were also involved in the fight on the workers' side. The local newspaper, the Lewiston Evening Journal, called this day "Red Wednesday." Because of the fighting, Governor Lewis Barrows called in the Maine Army National Guard to help keep order.
How the Strike Ended
The strike continued for a while, but it ended on June 29, 1937. Unfortunately for the workers, the strike did not achieve all their goals. It was considered a loss for them.
Key People and Organizations
Powers Hapgood's Role
Powers Hapgood was an important person in the strike. He was the New England secretary for the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO). He arrived in Lewiston on March 12 to help organize the strike. He was even put in jail for two months. This happened because he kept helping the strike even after a judge said it was not allowed.
The Strike's Lasting Impact
Remembering the Strike
In 1992, a professor from Bates College, Robert Branham, made a documentary film about the strike. It was called "Roughing the Uppers: the Great Shoe Strike of 1937." This film helped people remember what happened.
What Historians Said
A historian named Charles Scontras studied the strike. He said that the way workers' rights were treated during the strike was very unfair. The American Civil Liberties Union even said that "Maine is at least 100 years behind the time in labor laws." This shows how serious the problems were.
The Mural Controversy
In 2008, a large painting (mural) was made to show the history of workers in Maine. It included a scene from the Lewiston–Auburn shoe strike. This mural was put on display in the Maine Department of Labor building. However, in March 2011, Governor Paul LePage ordered the mural to be taken down. He was a strong supporter of businesses and capitalism. This decision caused a big debate across the state.
