Organized labor

Japanese immigrants, especially upon arrival, labored at menial jobs in the industries of agriculture, railroads, lumber, canneries, mining, and fishing. These workers toiled under poor, unsanitary, and often dangerous conditions for low wages. Around the turn of the century, sugar-beet harvesters earned about $1.25 for a ten-hour day, railroad workers earned between $1.00 and $1.25 per day, and Alaskan cannery workers earned between $100 and $200 for a six-month season. They actively sought to better their wages and living conditions through organizing unions and engaging in strikes, despite being barred from white unions.

Industry and employment (481)
Organized labor (61)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Koji Ariyoshi, Karl Yoneda

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61 items

I.W.W. Plans Blow to Federation Unionists. State Labor Commissioner Hears of Plot to Return to Lumber Camps and Let A.F.L. Stay Out in Cold. (September 11, 1917) (ddr-densho-56-300)

doc I.W.W. Plans Blow to Federation Unionists. State Labor Commissioner Hears of Plot to Return to Lumber Camps and Let A.F.L. Stay Out in Cold. (September 11, 1917) (ddr-densho-56-300)

The Seattle Daily Times, September 11, 1917, p. 3

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-300/

Organized Labor. Japanese Union Holds Meeting. Crowd Attends Initial Session of New Labor Organization -- Orientals Seek American Workers' Goal. (August 23, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-272)

doc Organized Labor. Japanese Union Holds Meeting. Crowd Attends Initial Session of New Labor Organization -- Orientals Seek American Workers' Goal. (August 23, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-272)

The Seattle Daily Times, August 23, 1915, p. 7

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-272/

doc Japanese Workers Give Union Problem (December 28, 1917) (ddr-densho-56-304)

The Seattle Daily Times, December 28, 1917, p. 23

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-304/

doc Japanese Labor Lines Up in Support of Strike (February 4, 1919) (ddr-densho-56-317)

The Seattle Daily Times, February 4, 1919, p. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-317/

doc Central Council Would Admit Japanese Unions (May 28, 1914) (ddr-densho-56-250)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 28, 1914, p. 5

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-250/

doc Japanese Question Before Butchers' Union (June 3, 1914) (ddr-densho-56-251)

The Seattle Daily Times, June 3, 1914, p. 8

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-251/

doc Workers Kick; Japs Quit; Now it's Worse (March 19, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-695)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 19, 1942, p. 3

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-695/

doc Japanese on Strike. Four Hundred Mill Hands Object to Having Wages Cut. (January 19, 1905) (ddr-densho-56-49)

The Seattle Daily Times, January 19, 1905, p. 14

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-49/

doc Packing House Workers to Admit Japanese to Union (September 17, 1918) (ddr-densho-56-314)

The Seattle Daily Times, September 17, 1918, p. 10

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-314/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 66, No. 23 (June 7, 1968) (ddr-pc-40-23)

Selected article titles: "Gardena teenager booked for 10th time by police in 4-yr. period" (p. 1), "Vandalism, drug use by Orientals under scrutiny" (p. 1), "Sociological study shows less affluent have poorer health, lead shorter lives" (p. 1), "S.F. State student arrested at sit-in" (p. 1), "Buddhist Churches of America inaugurates first Nisei bishop" (p. 1), …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-40-23/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 59, Vol. 21 (November 20, 1964) (ddr-pc-36-47)

Selected article titles: "Seattle Sansei Freed on Bail in Mississippi" (p.1-2), "Japanese Language Project" (p.1-2), "ACLU Supports NAACP Suit to Void Prop. 14" (p.1), "When Bracero Program Ends, Call Retained Mexican Workers 'Primo'" (p1, 3), "'Inclusion' of Negro Jurors if Deliberate Held as Unconstitutional as 'Exclusion'" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-36-47/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 58, Vol. 9 (February 28, 1964) (ddr-pc-36-9)

Selected article titles: "Rumford Act Repeal Measure Found Qualified" (p.1), "Sen. Kuchel Honored by JACL; Predicts Civil Rights Bill Win" (p.1), "Gov. Brown Pledges Support to Seek Needed Farm Help" (p.1), "PSWDC Major Medical Insurance Program to Be Launced when Brochure Printed" (p.1), "Civil Rights Act" (p.2), "Nisei Pastor of Negro Church Cited" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-36-9/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 58, Vol. 8 (February 21, 1964) (ddr-pc-36-8)

Selected article titles: "Growers Council to Recruit Domestic Hands for Bracero" (p.1); "Federal Aid in Housing Periled by Initiative" (p.1), "Tacoma Voters Reject Housing Ordinance" (p.1), "Cortez JACL Planning Community Center" (p.1), "Civil Rights Act" (p.2), "City Hall Approves Li'l Tokio Rebuilding" (p.3), "Once a North Dakota Homesteader, Kitagawa Now a Spry 88" (p.4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-36-8/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 60, No. 2 (January 8, 1965) (ddr-pc-37-2)

Selected article titles: "Prop. 14 Upheld in First Test at Orange County" (p.1), "President Johnson Outlines His Thoughts of Great Society" (p.1-2), "California Braceros No More-Growers Uncertain about Future" (p.1), "San Francisco Main Port for Issei Emigres" (p.3), "Preparation Needed to Cope with Japanese Visitors to Hawaii" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-37-2/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 60, No. 3 (January 15, 1965) (ddr-pc-37-3)

Selected article titles: "Another Angle Proposed to Eliminate Alien Land Law" (p.1), "Texas Issei Pioneers in Farming Had Little Thought of 'Hiki-Age'" (p.1-2, 4), "Japanese Supplemental Farm Workers Program in California Jeopardized by Latest U.S. Labor Dept. Rule to Remove Braceros" (p.1), "Los Angeles Area Oriental Groups Form Council" (p.3-4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-37-3/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 55, No. 10 (September 7, 1962) (ddr-pc-34-36)

Selected article titles: "Congress Adopts No-Tax Bill" (p.1-2, 4), "Race Discrimination in Labor Unions Next NAACP Target" (p.1), "Loneliness and Sharks Greatest Problems on Epic Solo Voyage Across Pacific Ocean, Kenichi Horie Reveals" (p.2), "Gunplay during Nisei Week Fells Youth, Two Sansei Brothers Held" (p.3), "Oakland JACL in Appeal to Community to Guard Against Damage to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-34-36/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 55, No. 22 (November 30, 1962) (ddr-pc-34-48)

Selected article titles: "Chapter Protests Effective in Quelling Use of 'Jap' on TV" (p.1), "JACL Welcomes Kennedy Order Banning Housing Bias" (p.1-2), "Equal Opportunity in Housing Established" (p.1), "Lack of Racial Pride by American Negro Holding Down their Progress, Leader Says" (p.1), "Urge Study of Bias in Child Care Homes by Welfare Board" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-34-48/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 55, No. 21 (November 23, 1962) (ddr-pc-34-47)

Selected article titles: "Trade Unions Join White House Push to Eliminate Discrimination in Jobs" (p.1-2), "President's Comm. On Equal Employment Opportunity Reviews 19-Month Operation" (p.1), "Japanese History Project on Threshold of $200,000" (p.1), "Small Business Adm. Charters First Nisei Corporation for Operation in Southland" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-34-47/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 55, No. 7 (August 17, 1962) (ddr-pc-34-33)

Selected article titles: "Evacuation Claims Clarification" (p.1), "Kennedy Asked to Direct IRS Defer Action on Tax Claim" (p.1), "Religious Freedom for U.S. Buddhists" (p.2), "Nisei Rebuffed 20 Years Ago by Bakers Union Voted Head of Retail Bakers Group" (p.4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-34-33/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 85, No. 24 (December 9, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-48)

Selected article titles: "Friendship Act Interest Mounting" (p.1), "Sansei Police Officer Cited Nation's Best" (p.1, 3), "Carter Choice for U.S. Appellate Court Sits As Its 2nd Asian American" (p.1), "Green Onion Growers Speaking Out: (p.2), "Dilemma of Race" (p.5), "A Buddhist Victory in Texas" (p.7).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-49-48/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 85, No. 23 (December 2, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-47)

Selected article titles: "Supreme Court Refuses Appeal from Young-Chin" (p.1), "Nisei Growers/Pickers in Wage Row" (p.1, 5), "Schools Built by Evacuees at Poston I and II to Be Razed" (p.1), "When Sachio Left Town, Even the Cows Were Blue" (p.3), "Anti-Minority Backlash" (p.4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-49-47/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 75, No. 20 (November 17, 1972) (ddr-pc-44-45)

Selected article titles: "To Save International District Seattle's Domed Stadium Groundbreaking Distrupted" (p.1), "34-page Petition Protests ILGWU Subway Poster" (p.1, 3), "Little Tokyo Denizen Hijacks JAL Jet Plane in Japan" (p.1, 6), "Work of Nisei G-2 in WW2 'Stupendous'" (p.4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-44-45/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 75, No. 19 (November 10, 1972) (ddr-pc-44-44)

Selected article titles: "Civic Betterment at J-town Expense Hit" (p.1), "Supreme Court Decision on Evacuation Calls Manzanar 'Concentration Camp'" (p.1), "ILGWU's Patriotism?" (p.1, 3), "Serological Tests Upset Belief Ainu Caucasoid, Type Resembles Ryukyuan" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-44-44/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 75, No. 18 (November 3, 1972) (ddr-pc-44-43)

Selected article titles: "Asian Americans Picket ILGWU N.Y. Headquarters" (p.1), "'Concentration Camp' Rejected for Manzanar Landmark Plaque" (p.1), "A Nisei View of Japan: A Homogenous Society" (p.2), "California's Prop. 21 Schoo Segregation Again" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-44-43/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 75, No. 14 (October 6, 1972) (ddr-pc-44-39)

Selected article titles: "Chavez Hurls Threat at Nisei Farm League" (p.1, 5), "Yen Claims Bill: Questions Raised, Answers Furnished" (p.1), "Immigrants Changing New York" (p.1), "A Nisei View of Japan: Understand the Japanese?" (p.2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-44-39/