Oahu Sugar Strike (1920)

The Oahu Sugar Strike was a multiracial strike in 1920 mainly by Filipino and Japanese migrant workers on sugarcane plantations in Hawaii, USA. It involved 8,300 workers and was part of the revolutionary wave following World War I.

Background

There had been numerous strikes before against the fairly low wages paid by the work there and the crowded living quarters for workers (which during the strike suffered a Spanish Flu outbreak killing 150 people). However, these strikes were often broken as the plantation owners simply hired strikebreakers of other ethnicities and playing on racism.

World War I led to an increase in living expenses despite stagnant wages and was a period of organising for the Filipino Labor Union and Federation of Japanese Labor, which brought a series of demands to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association on the 4th of December, 1919 with a demand for a 38% wage increase for men and a 35% wage increase for women with paid maternity leave. The demands were refused and a strike began.

Events

In retaliation for the strike workers and their families were evicted from their living quarters (12,020 people were evicted) leading to strike sympathisers letting strikers stay in their homes as well as in tent cities, hotels, empty buildings and churches (notably opposed by Christian churches but supported by Buddhist and Shinto churches). Boredom and low funds were major issues for the strike.

Conclusion

The strike lasted until the 1st of July when a 50% pay raise with benefits was granted to the strikers.

References

• Edward Beecher (1985) - Working in Hawaii: A Labor History