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| The White House Restaurant, c.1913 In the Adolph Block on State Street the former location of Cooke's Stationery (Salem Library Historic Photos) |
Back in the spring of 1924, restaurant workers at the White House Restaurant decided to strike. The morning paper said it was for an eight hour work day and six day work week.
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| May 22nd, 1924 |
The afternoon paper saw the strike as part of a larger union organizing effort, not only for closed shops at restaurants, but for other industries also.
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| May 22nd, 1924 |
It's hard to say exactly what was going on. The papers here were biased against unions and the coverage sometimes minimized the scope of efforts and sometimes exaggerated the threat from "agitators."
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| Oregon Labor Press, May 30th |
The Oregon Labor Press had a longer piece, discussing underage child labor and lack of bathrooms and dressing rooms. They also highlighted that some restaurants here were "fair" and "100% union": The Coffee Shop, Valley Grill, and Stage Terminal restaurant.
The unfair restaurants were Grey Belle, Electric, Spa, Argo, Jack's Place, Home, and the White House.
To that list the Statesman added as opposing the union effort, the Oyster Loaf, Royal Cafeteria.
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| May 23rd, 1924 |
Owners and other "leading businessmen" met in early June to try to break the strike.
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| June 3rd, 1924 |
The State Labor Commissioner got involved.
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| June 5th, 1924 |
Medical exams for workers was introduced as a new demand. This might be the start of what became the Food Handler's card.
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| June 6th, 1924 |
The Oregon Labor Press said at this time the strike was having "splendid results." They also asserted the meeting among restaurant owners to coordinate strike-breaking efforts a few nights earlier had not been a success, "a flat failure." The Salem papers had not reported on the conclusion of the meeting, and they probably would have if it had been more successful, so this is a plausible reading of the outcome.
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| Oregon Labor Press June 6th, 1924 |
Over the summer, City Council got tired of the strike and tried to outlaw picketing.
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| August 19th, 1924 |
Finally a settlement was negotiated and the strike ended over Labor Day weekend. The anti-picketing municipal legislation was still in process, effectively rendered moot, and it did not move further.
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| September 2nd, 1924 |
The Bitsman opposed the picketing and editorialized that "Salem is not that kind of town" and "ought to remain immune forever..."
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| September 2nd, 1924 |
The afternoon paper used stronger language, pointing to "imported agitators," and saying "the rule of reason should preclude both strikes and lockouts."
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| September 2nd, 1924 |
The Oregon Labor Press reported later in the fall that the strike had been successful.
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| Oregon Labor Press, Nov. 14th, 1924 |
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| Oregon Labor Press, Nov. 21st, 1924 |
Labor history isn't a core interest here, and there is certainly more to say about this episode's place in a larger sweep of labor history in Salem. Maybe you will know more, though little has been written on it here. It does appear that the strike was part of a larger organizing effort.
At this time there were several unions and other affiliations for labor.
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| August 31st, 1924 |
See also:
- "White House Restaurant" at the Mill
- "Salem Labor Temple" at the Mill
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