40 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
40 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
The **Oahu Sugar Strike** was a multiracial
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[strike](List_of_Strikes "wikilink") in
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[1920](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_North_America "wikilink")
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mainly by Filipino and Japanese migrant workers on sugarcane plantations
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in [Hawaii](Hawaii "wikilink"),
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[USA](United_States_of_America "wikilink"). It involved 8,300 workers
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and was part of the [revolutionary
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wave](Revolutions_of_1916_-_1923 "wikilink") following [World War
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I](World_War_I "wikilink").
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## Background
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There had been numerous strikes before against the fairly low wages paid
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by the work there and the crowded living quarters for workers (which
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during the strike suffered a Spanish Flu outbreak killing 150 people).
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However, these strikes were often broken as the plantation owners simply
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hired strikebreakers of other ethnicities and playing on
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[racism](racism "wikilink"). World War I led to an increase in living
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expenses despite stagnant wages and was a period of organising for the
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Filipino Labor Union and Federation of Japanese Labor, which brought a
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series of demands to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association on the 4th
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of December, 1919 with a demand for a 38% wage increase for men and a
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35% wage increase for women with paid maternity leave. The demands were
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refused and a strike began.
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## Events
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In retaliation for the strike workers and their families were evicted
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from their living quarters (12,020 people were evicted) leading to
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strike sympathisers letting strikers stay in their homes as well as in
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tent cities, hotels, empty buildings and churches (notably opposed by
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Christian churches but supported by Buddhist and Shinto churches).
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Boredom and low funds were major issues for the strike.
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## Conclusion
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The strike lasted until the 1st of July when a 50% pay raise with
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benefits was granted to the strikers.
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## Referen |