Boston Police Strike (1919) (Research Paper Sample)

Boston Police Strike (1919)
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate what transpired for the Boston police to go on strike in 1919. It highlights the problems that the officers had to undergo through in line of work. The harsh working conditions with little pay played a major role. In September 1919, Boston police officers left their work places leading to riots in the city. Massachusetts National guard was sent to restore order. The riot appeared to exhibit that police presence restricted criminal behavior and social order. Negotiations were later held that saw the police department in Boston reformed.
Introduction
In 1919, the Boston Officers had a vast deal to protest about. Cost of living and inflation had increased much quicker than wage increase. Cost of living had skyrocketed by 76% in 1919, whereas police wages had increased by 18%. In addition, the soldiers had returned from war invading the labor market also planting pressure on workers’ thus earning power (Forst et al, 2010).
One-fifth of the nation’s workers would strike during 1919. In January, New York’s port workers and dressmakers went on strike. In September 1919, Boston Policemen went on a strike demanding a pay rise, better working conditions as well as short working hours. It dawned to people that no one could stop them from carrying out anything hence numerous violent proceedings occurred and looting began. With the aim of restoring order, Massachusetts State forces were sent. Numerous civilians passed on during this strike period. Massachusetts force was later summoned by the government for quickly causing the walkout to end and earning government reputation of stern enforcer of order and law (Brown, 2010).
It’s for sure that the Boston policemen had genuine complaints which they had put across back in 1917. Pay for starting new policemen had not increased in sixty years, ever since 1857.New recruits were being paid 2 dollars a day. Unskilled workers from the factory had a higher pay than the police. The police had to work throughout the week with only one off day whereby you were expected not to leave town without special authorization (Braswell et al, 2014).
Officers had to work between seventy two hours and ninety eight hours a week depending on duty assignment and were expected to sleep in station house lest they were required. In case one had to testify in court, no fee was paid to them. Officers also protested of terrible conditions in the police station such as lack of toilets, beds, sanitation and baths. Since the Boston police force felt like no one was paying attention to their grievances, in August 1919, they decided to join the Boston Social Club associated with the AFL (Forstchen, 2011).
Edwin Curtis the Police Commissioner considered that police officers shouldn’t belong to any union as well as serves their duties at the same time. On account of his ill-advised ideas, Curtis quickly suspended 19 officers who were working as union organizers. In vengeance to the suspension of 19 officers and refusal of the Police Commissioner to permit them to join the AFL, Boston Police Officers went on strike (Brown, 2010).
Since the strike had disabled communication, communities and businesses it was time for negotiation. There was a fear of a general strike would follow. Mayor Peters decided to meet union leaders to ask for a negotiation. Samuel Gompers the chief of AFL rapidly evaluated the situation encouraging strikers to resume work. The Boston Police resumed work right away.
On September 1919, Governor Coolidge and Mayor Peters received a telegraph from Gompers requesting for the policemen on strike to be re-established. In response to Gompers telegraph, Coolidge replied by stating that he supported Commissioner Curtis forcefulness. Coolidge got a telegraph from Gompers stating that Curtis was the blame for the disaster. Coolidge dismissed Curtis behavior as inappropriate, as no aggravation could validate the police strike. His brief summary elevated his repute on the public scene. Finally, the strike collapsed earning Coolidge a reputation of a strict order and law enforcer (Forst et al, 2010).
The walkout officers were never let to resume to their work places with the Boston Department and the State Guard was permitted to go back to their dwellings. Due to the kick out of the strikers, the Boston Department did not have enough servicemen hence recruiting new policemen. The new policemen got better working conditions, benefit uniforms at no cost, additional holiday and higher pay.
If the police ...