The Strike
On March 17, 1970, members of Local 36 in Manhattan met and voted to strike. Picketing began just after midnight, on March 18.
More than 210,000 United States Post Office Department workers were eventually involved, although initially the strike affected only workers in New York City. These workers decided to strike against the wishes of their leadership. The spontaneous unity produced by this decision empowered the workers and called into question their need for central organization.
President Nixon appeared on national television and ordered the employees back to work, but his address only stiffened the resolve of the existing strikers and angered workers in another 671 locations in other cities into walking out as well. Workers in other government agencies also announced they would strike if Nixon pursued legal action against the postal employees.
Authorities were unsure of how to proceed. Union leaders plead with the workers to return to their jobs. The government was hesitant to arrest strike leaders for fear of arousing sympathy among other workers.
Read more about this topic: U.S. Postal Strike Of 1970
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