lang: en
Summary
In 1919, Boston police officers went on strike to demand higher pay, shorter hours, and better working conditions, as well as to protest the suspension of union leaders. The strike led to widespread looting and violence, prompting Governor Calvin Coolidge to call in the state guard, which resulted in several deaths. Ultimately, the striking officers were fired and replaced, though the new police force received increased salaries and improved conditions.
Tactics used
Tactics used
Background
After World War I, inflation outpaced wage growth, and returning soldiers flooded the labor market, reducing workers’ earning power. From 1913 to 1919, the cost of living rose 75% while police wages rose only 18%, and officers worked 72-98 hours per week with poor conditions. In June 1919, Boston police sought to unionize with the American Federation of Labour, but Police Commissioner Edwin Curtis opposed this and suspended eight union leaders in August, prompting the strike.
What happened
On 9 September 1919, 1,117 of 1,544 Boston police officers went on strike, leaving the city without adequate law enforcement [source: nv-database]. Looting and rioting broke out, and by 8pm an estimated 10,000 people crowded Scollay Square [source: nv-database]. Mayor Peters appealed to Governor Coolidge, who called in the state guard and used an emergency clause for riots [source: nv-database]. Harvard President Lawrence Lowell recruited student volunteers to serve as replacement police, but crowds attacked them [source: nv-database]. The military guard used live ammunition and machine guns, killing five residents and injuring over twenty; civilians caused three other deaths [source: nv-database]. Mayor Peters sought compromise, but Governor Coolidge forbade reinstating the strikers, stating he would never allow a strike to threaten public safety [source: nv-database]. By December, Commissioner Curtis had recruited a new police force with increased salaries and improved conditions [source: nv-database]. The American Federation of Labour revoked the police union’s charter, ending police unionism for two decades [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Boston Police Force
- American Federation of Labour
- Police Commissioner Edwin Curtis
- Governor Calvin Coolidge
- Mayor Andrew Peters
- Lawrence Lowell
Outcome
Verdict: partial.
The strike achieved partial success: the new police force received higher wages and better working conditions, but the striking officers were fired and replaced, and police unionism was suppressed for two decades [source: nv-database].
Lessons
- A strike by essential public workers can quickly lead to public disorder and a harsh crackdown, undermining the strikers’ goals.
- Government officials may use a strike as a pretext to break unions and replace workers, even if they later improve conditions.
- Support from broader labor federations can be withdrawn under political pressure, leaving strikers isolated.
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py