A plaque described the reason for this monument to the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike. It read:

In memory of Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise, who gave their lives on Bloody Thursday, July 5, 1934, so that all working people might enjoy a greater measure of dignity and security.

Sperry and Bordoise were fatally shot by San Francisco police at the intersection of Mission and Steuart Streets, when longshoremen and seamen attempted to stop maritime employers from breaking their joint strike. Community outrage at these killings sparked a general strike by all San Francisco unions.

The maritime strike continued through the middle of summer concluding with a union victory which brought decent conditions to the shipping industry and set the stage for the rebirth of a strong and democratic labor movement on the West coast.

"An Injury To One is An Injury To All"

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1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike   •  As A Monument   •  As An Exhibit of Art   •  Steuart and Mission Streets   •  San Francisco California   •  (Date Photographed: 10:06:20 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales #C18_1770
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The monument stood in an alcove at the corner. Although it appears to be a one-sided mural, it actually has art on both sides, half the art facing the street, and half the art facing the building.

One face of the monument exhibited a scaffolding with clocks, steel bar, and sacks of coffee. Below, a large and strong longshoremen's arm handles rope, while the owner reads his book of profits.

The lower, central panel showed longshoremen, seamen, and others facing the rabble of scabs, and the guns of police in opposition.

One of the back panels showed a scene of a union contract being negotiated.

An old and retired union worker holds a copy of his negotiated pension in his hands.

A union kitchen was set up to provide meals for the union striking workers and their families.

San Francisco newspapers told the story of the strike and how the striking workers laid flowers in the street in honor of their two fallen comrades.

The bosses of the shipping companies picked scabs to work while the union was on strike.

A closer detail shot of hands gripping papers, while tied with rope.

Art depicts two signs held by strikers. One read, "An injury to one is an injury to all." The other read, "Act against injustice."

A boy held a bag filled with sourdough loaves of bread while wearing an ILWU (International Longshoremen Worker's Union) hat.

Shoulder to shoulder stood longshoremen, seamen, teamsters, and the labor council.