On this day in labor history, the year was 1973.
That was the day Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers struck Shell Oil over health and safety issues.
OCAW had been involved in lobbying for the passage of OSHA and other environmentally related Acts.
Their members worked in some of the most dangerous, most toxic industries in the country.
By 1972, they demanded contract language for health and safety committees on the job.
The oil companies countered with accusations that improved safety proved too expensive and that OCAW used the issue to assert union control over the production process.
The other oil companies eventually settled in OCAW’s favor.
But Shell would not budge.
And so, the OCAW called a strike at eight facilities and a boycott of all Shell products.
They also successfully enlisted the support of environmental organizations by stressing toxic chemical exposure and hazards faced by workers and the public alike.
Picket lines were solid and thousands honored the boycott.
Sales for Shell fell by 25%.
After four months, the strike fund was nearly drained.
Shell exploited internal divisions among members at a Texas plant and negotiated a separate settlement.
What health and safety language Shell agreed to, was non-binding.
The union was broke and the strike ended in compromise in early June.
Despite this, as historian Robert Gordon notes, OCAW was able to “gain strong health and safety language at all other oil companies for the first time, heightened public awareness of health hazards confronting millions of workers…and pressured OSHA into adopting stricter standards. Perhaps more importantly, the strike solidified the tentative labor-environmental alliance.”
Having merged with the United Steelworkers, the union continues to secure safe working conditions through contracts and alliances today.
November 3 - The Greensboro Massacre
November 2 - Sixteen Tons
November 1 - The Deadly Consequences of Scabbing
October 31 - Happy Union Made Halloween
October 30 - Wall St. Lays an Egg
October 29 - Alice Doesn’t Day
October 28 - The Pony Express
October 27 - The 1948 Donora Smog
October 26 - America’s Florence Nightingale
October 25 - NY Daily News On Strike!
October 24 - Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for What We Will!
October 23 - John Sweeney is Elected
October 22 - Pretty Boy Floyd Is Gunned Down
October 21 - Through Rain, Sleet, Snow & Anthrax
October 20 - Remembering Debs
October 19 - Tragedy on the Tracks
October 18 - Voice of an Era
October 17 - Fighting to End Poverty
October 16 - Thank A Farmer
October 15 - Too Little, Too Late for Radiation Sickness
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