The 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike: A Vermont Perspective
/By Sarah Maroney
In the early months of 1912, a fierce battle for labor rights erupted in Lawrence, Massachusetts, when textile workers, many of them immigrants, walked off the job in response to a pay cut following a state reduction in weekly working hours. What followed was a landmark strike that not only shaped the future of labor rights but also resonated far beyond Lawrence, reaching communities like Barre and Winooski in Vermont.
Strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, with many children posed on sidewalk. 1912. Retrieved from the Libary of Congress.
The Lawrence Strike: A Turning Point in Labor History
The strike began on January 11, 1912, when women working at the Everett Mill in Lawrence realized their wages had been cut by 32 cents—no small amount when the average weekly pay was only $8.76. Word spread quickly, and within a day, over 10,000 workers had joined the movement. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) played a crucial role in organizing the strike, providing multilingual leadership and ensuring workers of diverse backgrounds could unite under common demands. This included a 15% wage increase, double pay for overtime, and an end to harsh disciplinary workplace practices.
As the strike continued, creative tactics emerged, including a moving picket line to evade loitering laws and mass singing demonstrations which echoed through the mill towns streets. The response from authorities was swift and severe: the state militia was deployed, armed with bayonets and fire hoses, to suppress the movement.
The strike reached a dramatic turning point when the IWW arranged for strikers' children to be temporarily relocated to safer environments. When authorities violently prevented a group of children from leaving the city, the ensuing media outrage led to federal intervention. A congressional hearing, prompted by President Taft, exposed the inhumane working conditions inside the mills, galvanizing national support for the strikers. After nine weeks, the strike ended in victory—workers won wage increases, better overtime pay, and a promise of non-retaliation.
Barre’s Support for the Strikers
The Lawrence strike resonated in Barre, Vermont, a community with strong labor traditions. Many of Barre’s stonecutters were members of the IWW and quickly mobilized in solidarity. On February 8, over 350 Barre residents gathered at the Socialist Labor Party Hall, pledging financial and moral support for the strikers. Local fundraising efforts generated hundreds of dollars for struggling families in Lawrence.
Barre’s contribution extended beyond monetary aid. On February 17, the community welcomed 35 children from striking families, ensuring they received medical care, food, and warm clothing. The children were greeted with a parade through the town, featuring a band and signs of support. This act of hospitality mirrored similar European strike practices and further amplified national awareness of the workers’ plight.
Children from Lawrence in Barre. “Barre, the Socialist Labor Party Hall, and the Lawrence Strike of 1912” February 17, 1912. Credit: Barre Historical Society
Winooski’s Complicated Role
Winooski, a Vermont mill town with a large immigrant workforce—did not join the strike, but it did not escape its impact. Both the Winooski and Lawrence mills were owned by the American Woolen Company, linking the two towns through shared corporate oversight. Rumors circulated about a mass meeting of mill workers at the Winooski mill on February 25 to discuss joining the strike, but ultimately, Winooski laborers returned to work the next day.
Local religious leaders played a significant role in discouraging labor unrest, urging parishioners to prioritize stability over protest. Their sermons emphasized the economic benefits the mills provided, fostering an environment where resistance was viewed as a threat to communal well-being. Nevertheless, the ripple effects of Lawrence’s labor victory were felt in Winooski, and by mid-March, the town’s textile workers received a modest 5% wage increase.
Legacy of the Strike
The Lawrence Textile Strike of 1912 was more than just a battle for fair wages—it was a defining moment in the American labor movement, proving that organized, multilingual, and worker-led efforts could challenge exploitative systems. Vermont’s textile and industrial communities, while not uniform in their response, were undeniably shaped by this historic moment. Barre’s solidarity reinforced the importance of labor unity, while Winooski’s experience highlighted the tensions between economic dependency and worker advocacy.
As visitors explore the Heritage Mill Museum, the history of New England’s textile industry is incomplete without acknowledging the voices of the workers who worked in the mills. Their struggle, resilience, and ultimate victory continue to inspire labor movements today.
Sarah Maroney interned at the Mill Museum during spring 2025. Sarah is a recent UVM graduate. She earned her BA in Global History and Environmental Studies in Dec. 2024. In additional to the Lawrence Strike, Sarah also researched the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in NYC in 1911. Both historic events strongly influenced the labor rights movement.