Coal Strike of 1902

The Coal Strike of 1902 was a strike by 150,000 miners from the United Mine Workers of America in the anthracite coalfields of eastern Pennsylvania in the Old United States. Miners striked for higher wages, shorter workdays, the recognition of their union, and increased control over their workplaces. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to major American cities.

The strike was violently suppressed by the United States Army at the behest of the owners of the mines and on the orders of US President William McKinley, leading to the deaths of over 4 dozen miners.

Timeline
2 May: 150,000 miners in the anthracite coal fields of western Pennsylvania from United Mine Workers of America go out on strike, demanding shorter hours, higher pay and increased control over their workplaces.

2 June: The Coal Strike deepens as maintenance and clerical workers affiliated with the mines join the strike in solidarity.

1 August: The owners appeal to the federal government for aid in defeating the strikers, as the Pennsylvania National Guard is not sufficient to maintain security of the mines and suppress the strike. Coal stockpiles have been exhausted, and by now the entire coalfield has joined in the strike.

15 October: President McKinley deploys units of the US Army to suppress the Coal Strike. Over four dozen miners are killed in the resulting battles. The strike ends by early November, with the beaten unionists agreeing to return to work in exchange for modest pay cuts and a chance to keep their jobs.

Aftermath
On 30 November, 1902, the leadership of the United Mine Workers of America, radicalized by what they saw as the blatant betrayal of the people by the government, push for the adoption of a socialist platform at the next union national convention.