the woolworth s store in downtown omaha in 1938.
traction company strike
wattles vehemently opposed unionization, , in 1909 fought strikes in favor of unionization hired policemen , rampant violence. 1934 amalgamated association of street , electric railway employees organized in omaha.
however, april 1935 fragile truce between pro-open shop management , pro-union forces broke. long, violent strike ensued. strikebreakers hired, , within 4 days company rolled out heavily fortified streetcars, complete windows covered heavy wire , armed guards on board. while few cars attracted passengers, cars encountered little resistance. company resisted calls arbitration omaha city council, , continued employing strikebreakers. in may violence broke out, rifle attacks, violent beatings , bombings across city. in june riots broke out throughout city mobs burning streetcars, looting , 2 deaths. city government lost control of violence , called in national guard, sent 1,800 troops while governor robert cochran declared martial law , ordered streetcars stop running. after governor intervened , wattles allowed arbitration, number of agreements made. however, no changes occurred, , strikebreakers stayed on job. violence ended, court cases ensued, , situation faded away. omaha traction company never unionized.
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