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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Spokane: Teamsters threaten to strike

Spokane’s teamsters and chauffeurs’ union, which had as many as 800 employed members, were planning to strike in two days, the Spokane Daily Chronicle reported on April 29, 1919. (Spokesman-Review archives)

The teamsters and chauffeurs’ union, which had as many as 800 employed members, were planning to strike in two days. They were demanding higher pay and a closed shop.

The Spokane Daily Chronicle predicted that “auto and horse traffic in Spokane” would be paralyzed if the strike was not averted.

Union milk drivers also were considering a strike.

Teamsters were asking for raises from a range of $2.75 to $4.50 a day to $3.25 to $5 a day.

A union official said the Teamsters publicly released it demands six weeks earlier to try to avoid a strike, but that employers had mostly ignored them. He added that the union’s closed shop proposal still would give businesses some ability to hire non-union workers.

Meanwhile, bakers, cooks and waiters were in contract negotiations and were expected to settle without having to strike.

Jim Kershner is on sabbatical.