Atlanta transit strike of 1950
- Atlanta transit strike of 1950
The Atlanta transit strike of 1950 was a lengthy transit strike that lasted from May 18, 1950 to November 16, 1950 in Atlanta, Georgia.
A month after author Margaret Mitchell was struck and killed by a taxi during a year when trolleys had killed five, there was a call in the city to increase safety on city streets.The city council passed an ordinance which required all cab and trolley drivers to apply for a permit.
It required a $5 fee and a fingerprint which was the only method at the time to trace criminal records.
The fingerprinting in particular was fought by Jesse Walton, president of Amalgamated Street Car Local 732, first in court cases which losses he appealed up to the United States Supreme Court (who declined to hear).
Still not willing to comply, Walton called for a strike which began on May 18, 1950.
Police Chief Herbert Jenkins suspended all force vacations to staff downtown intersections all day long to handle the great increase in automobile traffic.
Mayor William Hartsfield called for legalized jitneys (which required a similar permit) to help reduce some of the traffic.
The strike was to last 37 days and as Hartsfield's law was written, jitney permits were immediately revoked.
The union voted to get permits on November 16, 1950 and found themselves working for a new company, the Atlanta Transit Company, as the former transit operator in Atlanta, Georgia Power, used this opportunity to get out of the transit business.
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Atlanta Transit Company — The Atlanta Transit Company (ATC) ran Atlanta transit from 1950 to 1972.Since the 1920s, the Georgia Railway and Power Company (now Georgia Power, a part of Southern Company), had been losing money on transit. They commissioned a study from… … Wikipedia
Timeline of mass transit in Atlanta — Timeline of mass transit in Atlanta: 1871 Richard Peters and George Adair run the first streetcars on the Atlanta Street Railway Company 1872 West End Atlanta Street Railroad Company formed 1878 Adair sells out to Peters 1879 Gate City Street… … Wikipedia
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority — MARTA redirects here. For the county bus system in California, see Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority … Wikipedia
Battle of Atlanta — Coordinates: 33°44′45″N 84°20′56″W … Wikipedia
Opera in Atlanta — Sign for the Atlanta Opera Opera in Atlanta has a long and uneven history. The first shows performed in Atlanta predate the American Civil War and were primarily performed in makeshift facilities modified for the operatic arts. The main company… … Wikipedia
Druid Hills Historic District (Atlanta, Georgia) — Druid Hills Historic District U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. Historic district … Wikipedia
List of mayors of Atlanta — Elections in Georgia Federal government Presidential elections … Wikipedia
History of television in Atlanta — Pre History of Atlanta TV = Atlanta television had its roots in Atlanta Journal (now Atlanta Journal Constitution ) owned radio station WSB AM. The Journal had launched the south s first radio station, WSB AM ( Welcome South Brother ), on March… … Wikipedia
List of strikes — The following is a list of deliberate absence from work related to specific working conditions (strikes) or due to general unhappiness with the political order (general strikes). =Chronological list of strikes= eventeenth Century*Strike of polish … Wikipedia
Georgia Power — (nyse|GPW) is an electricity corporation based in Georgia. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that is operated by Southern Company.Georgia Power is an investor owned, tax paying public utility that serves more than two million… … Wikipedia
