ABSTRACT
One of the most vociferous standoffs between business and labor ever to embroil the city of San Francisco resulted when structural steel workers and the closely related architectural iron workers went out on strike in 1916. The structural steel workers, as well as the architectural iron workers, were highly skilled craftsmen whose work had been essential to the rebuilding of San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906. Though their numbers declined somewhat after that holocaust, the unions were large and, unlike other San Francisco unions, relatively free of any association with radical elements. Frederick J. Koster, president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, called the meeting of businessmen in order to outline a plan to “control the intolerable situation on the waterfront.” To the enthusiastic and receptive audience, Koster advocated the formation of a special committee to oversee the solution of the maritime-related strikes in San Francisco.
