Since its original publication in 1972, no book has done as much as Jeremy Brecher's Strike! to bring American labor history to a wide audience. Strike! narrates the dramatic story of repeated, massive, and sometimes violent revolts by ordinary working people in America. It tells this exciting hidden history from the point of view of the rank-and-file workers who lived it.
In this expanded edition, Jeremy Brecher brings the story up to date. Revised chapters covering the forty years since the original edition place the problems faced by working people today in the context of 140 years of labor history. A new chapter, "Beyond One-Sided Class War," presents the American mini-revolts of the twenty-first century, from the Battle of Seattle to Occupy Wall Street and beyond. Strike! is essential reading for anyone interested in the historical or present-day situations of American workers and serves as inspiration for organizers, activists, and educators working to revive the labor movement today.
What People Are Saying
"An exciting history of American labor. Brings to life the flashpoints of labor history. Scholarly, genuinely stirring."
—New York Times
"Splendid...clearly the best single-volume summary yet published of American general strikes."
—Washington Post
“One of the most important books on labor history published since World War II.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States
"A magnificent book. I hope it will take its place as the standard history of American labor."
—Staughton Lynd
“Brecher’s stories are interesting and exciting, his prose colorful, his quotes well chosen."
—Texas Observer
About the Author
Jeremy Brecher is the author of more than a dozen books on labor and social movements including Strike!,Brass Valley, History from Below, Building Bridges, Global Village or Global Pillage, and Globalization from Below. He was Humanities Scholar-in-Residence at Connecticut Public Television and Radio and received five regional Emmy Awards for his documentary film work. He helped found and currently works with the Labor Network for Sustainability. He holds a Ph.D. from the Union Graduate School.