Strikes and Other Labor Disputes
Strikes in CF&I History
- 1872-1877: Several coal strikes break out at mining properties in Fremont County to prevent reductions in the price of mining coal.
- 1879, 1881: Walkouts in support of demands for higher compensation in mining districts
- 1882: Workmen (primarily miners) protested unsuccessfully new policy of paying monthly wages with checks rather than cash
- 1883: Walkout intended to force CF&I to implement certain provisions of Colorado’s first law for the regulation of the coal mines and allow workers to hire their own check weigh man
- 1883-1884: Coal strike called in Fremont County; quickly spread throughout Colorado
- 1894: Railroad strike - miners and steelworkers walked out in sympathy
- 1901: Mine walkout at the Sopris Mine in Las Animas County as protest against CF&I’s failure to give full weight for their coal, and against the high cost of compulsory medical care program.
- 1903-1904: Coal strike called by UMWA demanding higher wages, 8 hour work day, fair system of weights, bi weekly paydays, abolition of scrip and recognition of the union as a bargaining tool
- 1913-1914: Coal Strike in northern Las Animas County; Colorado Coal Field Wars, also known as Ludlow Massacre
- 1919: Steel strike – nationwide call to strike by Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
- 1927-1928: Coal strike I.W.W. attempts to organize the Southern Colorado coal fields. Last major strike in Southern Colorado Coal Fields
- 1933: Creation of the National Recovery Administration, allowing employees to bargain collectively without coercion from their employer
- 1933: ERP abandoned in mining camps; 95% of miners vote in favor of United Mine Workers of America representation
- 1935: Wagner Act passed allowing labor’s right to unionize; ERP is in conflict with the resolution; changes name to Employees Rights Organization (ERO)
- 1935: Committee for Industrial Organization takes advantage of Wagner Act, heavily recruiting steelworkers and iron miners into their ranks
- 1942: CF&I workers abandon ERO for the CIO; United Steelworkers of American Labor Union 2102 building built at Pueblo
- 1949: steel strike - called by United Steelworkers of America - Nationwide strike results in first pension agreement, sick and accident benefits, life insurance
- 1959: Steel Strike-called by the United Steelworkers of America lasts 114 days, the longest strike in United States history until that point.
- 1978: coal strike at Allen and Maxwell Mines (3 months)
- 1997: steel strike organized by United Steelworkers of America
