The 1934 Longshore Workers Strike Roleplay

In a classroom simulation of the 1934 West Coast Longshore Strike, students interact in 5 small groups representing the various workers and employers of San Francisco—to learn about the labor movement, the depressed economy, the strike’s impact, and alternative proposals for resolving the problems. After negotiations to build alliances, the simulation concludes with a community meeting convened by the Mayor that decides whether to use the police to reopen the port. Following the simulation, students analyze the outcome of their experience (who won the strike and why) and determine issues they want to learn more about and take action on. For example: identify union vs. non-union employers in our local economy, interview union members about the causes and impact of a strike in their community, create a peer education program about the rights of employees in a workplace.