Site of First Factory Strike in U.S.
Pawtucket, RI, May 26, 1824
The first successful textile mills in America were established in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1793. On May 24, 1824 the owners of the eight mills in town made the announcement that the workday for power loom weavers would increase by one hour and their wages were to be cut by 25%. These changes specifically targeted women between the ages of 15 and 30, as they were the only people doing that particular job.
In response, 102 young women and their sympathizers blocked the entrance to the Slater Mill (pictured here), shutting it down on May 26. It was determined that they would not return to work until the new wage and hour rules were reversed. The strike then spread to the other seven mills, with 500 people walking off their jobs. On June 2, one of the mills was damaged by a fire of unknown origin, most likely set by strikers. The next day the mill owners agreed to negotiate and a “compromise” was reached with the strikers. On June 3 the mills returned to full operating capacity.
The strike was the beginning of a series of labor actions aimed at obtaining fair wages and working conditons in the mills across the northeast. It was also the first instance of women not accepting second class status in the workplace heirachy and fighting for their rights.
