December 3, 1946
In support of 400 Oakland, California department store workers who had been striking since October to gain recognition for their union, 100,000 workers from 142 AFL unions representing all types of worker, declared a “work holiday” and walked off their jobs. City and union leaders reached a compromise agreement, which restored workers to their jobs on December 5. In the wake of the general strike, populist politics in Oakland experienced an uptick in energy and popularity, and eventually elected four labor-sponsored candidates to the city council.
