Today in Labor History October 10th, 2022

 

20,000 cotton pickers in southern California’s San Joaquin Valley went on strike six days earlier over wages, working conditions, and union recognition.

Striking workers who had assembled at their union’s office in Pixley, California to hear an organizer speak were shot at by growers who drove up in their pickup trucks. Within minutes, two workers were dead and eight injured.  Eight growers were indicted, but all were acquitted of murder. – 1933

Blogger’s note – From what I’ve read, John Steinbeck used the shooting at Pixley as a part of his book, In Dubious Battle (a personal favorite of which I have a first edition) The book itself deals with a fruit strike.