Central ND News

On May 16, 1933, unskilled laborers walked off the job during the construction of the North Dakota Capitol, demanding higher wages and better working conditions, according to archived documents and photographs.

According to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the 1933 labor strike at the North Dakota State Capitol construction site was a pivotal event during the Great Depression. On that day, over 200 laborers halted their work and began picketing to demand higher wages. These laborers had spent more than ten months performing physically demanding tasks while earning the least and having few employment alternatives.

The wage disparity at the capitol construction site was stark. The State Historical Society of North Dakota noted that unskilled workers earned only 30 cents per hour, while skilled tradesmen such as bricklayers and stone masons earned up to $1.10 per hour. Even rough carpenters received 70 cents an hour—more than double the rate paid to common laborers—fueling resentment and protest.

As reported by InForum, the strike remained peaceful for over a week but turned violent on May 24 when multiple workers were injured and five strikers were arrested. The confrontation, often referred to as "the riot," led to a two-day shutdown of all work on the site. On June 1, Governor William Langer declared martial law in Bismarck, and the next day, a negotiated settlement was reached that increased wages for the striking laborers to at least 40 cents per hour.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota operates under the supervision of a 12-member State Historical Board, which appoints the Director to carry out statewide historical preservation and education initiatives. Headquartered in the North Dakota Heritage Center on the Capitol grounds, it is organized into four departments: Administration; Archaeology and Historic Preservation; Audience Engagement & Museum; and State Archives.