1835 Washington Navy Yard labor strike
The Washington Navy Yard labor strike of 1835 is considered the first strike of federal civilian employees. The strike began on Wednesday July 31, 1835, and ended August 15, 1835. The strike supported the movement advocating a ten-hour workday and redressing grievances such as newly imposed lunch-hour regulations. The strike failed in its objectives for two reasons, the Secretary of the Navy refused to change the shipyard working hours and the loss of public support due to the involvement of large numbers of mechanics and laborers in the race riot popularly known as the Snow Riot or Snow Storm.
Washington Navy Yard c. 1862
Isaac Hull, who issued the order that caused the strike
Commodore Isaac Hull's regulation of July 29, 1835, re employee meals and access to the Washington Navy Yard that touched off the August 1835 labor strike. This was the first labor strike of federal employees
Enclosure to letter from Issac Hull to Mahlon Dickerson dated August 12, 1835, NARA RG 45 Office of Naval Records and Library. Enclosure enumerates striking WNY civilian employees by occupation.
The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is a ceremonial and administrative center for the United States Navy, located in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy, situated along the Anacostia River in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Southeast D.C.
An aerial view of Washington Navy Yard during 2021
Latrobe Gate, the ceremonial entrance to the Navy Yard
Carpenters time book dated Nov 22, 1819, enumerates the time ship carpenters, ship joiners and boat builders spent on different jobs. The projects listed include refitting the USS Congress, USS Columbia, working in the Mould Loft, and building "Patterns." In the lower right-hand corner is a doodle of two shorebirds. Time book may have been that of early WNY employee William Easby 1791 -1854. Navy Library Collection
"Sailors or Laborers Wanted" for Washington Navy Yard, City of Washington Gazette 1 Dec 1819
