Webster & Stevens Collection via Creative Commons Seattle shipyard workers in 1919 as they walk off the job. It was the Seattle General Strike of 1919, which began on Feb. 6 and lasted just five days. Low wages, soaring living costsThe Seattle General Strike had its origins in the city’s many shipyards. In 1918, there were about 16,000 shipyard workers in Seattle. Unions representing skilled workers began to fear that the general strike was undermining their prestige and began ordering members back to work.

Source: Huffington Post February 15, 2019 19:18 UTC