The 1882 longshoremen's strike was part of a broader wave of labor unrest in the late 19th century. While not as well-known or far-reaching as the 1934 West Coast strike, the 1882 action involved dockworkers and railroad laborers protesting poor conditions and wages, part of the general rise in organized labor following the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
Though many workers returned to their jobs quickly, the 1882 strike reflected growing frustrations that would later fuel more coordinated and impactful labor movements.
