In 1934, the truck drivers in the Minneapolis Teamsters Local 574 along with thousands of other workers in solidarity with them, showed the world what militant unionism meant. Through the course of three strikes, in February, May, and June through August, the people of Minneapolis proved that the bosses organization called the Citizens Alliance, the police, and the National Guard together could not crush the forces of organized labor. Even when martial law was declared, not a truck could move without a strike exemption--given only to unionized milk, ice, coal, and hospital trucks. In sympathy strikes, all of the taxi drivers and 35,000 building trades workers walked out. Mass protests and rallies were held often, with up to 40,000 people in attendance. Despite many physical attacks and attempts at breaking the picket line by the Citizens Alliance and the police, and raids by the National Guard, the strikers won their settlement on August 22, 1934. These strikes had far reaching effects. They were a turning point for the labor struggles of the thirties, and mark the transition of Minneapolis to a union town.

The strike won the workers their settlement and established Minneapolis as a union town. Silkscreen.