1920–1921 Chicago rent strikes
| 1920-21 Chicago rent strikes | |||
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Tenants at 4706-32 Racine avenue and others give a demonstration against rent boosting, March 1920
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| Date | 1920–1921 | ||
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| Caused by | Rent increases and housing shortage
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| Methods | |||
| Resulted in | Minor tenant union victory:
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The 1920–1921 Chicago rent strikes were a series of tenant mobilizations against rent increases and landlords following an acute housing crisis in the city. It was likely in part inspired by the tactics of the 1918–1920 New York City rent strikes.
The rent strikes were also characterized by a then ongoing open shop movement by employers to break up unions, with a focus on the building trades, utilizing the housing crisis to call for a decrease in their wages.
By its end the strikes in Chicago won tenants the right to a trial by jury, the right for judges to give tenants a six-month delay in rent increases and led to the institution of a minimum heat requirement for apartments during winter months. Many tenants also individually won decreases in rent with their landlords after going on rent strike and negotiating with their landlord.