The Salmon War at the Cannery
Striking fishermen and cannery owners reach a stalemate, with union members calling out the owner of the Mukilteo operation for intimidating laborers.
The fishermen's strike remains at a standstill, with no seines out and cannery owners preparing to shutter operations for the winter. Mr. Myers, a cannery owner, claims he will not send men out under the threat of intimidation and that the current market makes it cheaper to close than to fight. Tensions escalated when Pete Pearson, along with other members of the Fishermen's union, visited the Post-Intelligencer office to denounce Myers' claims, asserting that the striking fishermen were American citizens demanding a fair price for their labor.
“We are earning our living by fishing and propose to get our price.”
This labor dispute reflects the high-stakes salmon industry that defined the Pacific Northwest economy. Like many industrial strikes in Seattle's history, it highlights the friction between organized labor and owners over control of the region's natural resources.
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