About
Garrett County Road Workers' Strike is a Maryland Historical Trust roadside marker on Maryland Route 135 (2008 Maryland Hwy) between Oakland and Mountain Lake Park, outside the Garrett County Roads Department offices. It recalls a 1970 labor dispute that drew national attention to this rural county. It's a short, meaningful stop for anyone interested in labor history or local politics.
The 1970 Strike
On April 7, 1970, 139 employees of the county Roads Department walked off the job to press the County Commissioners to recognize their membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), organized as Local 1834. Citizens, clergy and political leaders backed the workers through months of activism. The strike also became political: in November 1970 voters elected three pro-union Democrats to the commission, and on November 19, 1970, the new board recognized the union and the strike ended. The marker describes it as the longest public worker strike in U.S. history.
Getting the Story on a Sign
Retired Baltimore steelworker Len Shindel researched the strike and pushed for a marker, which the Maryland Historical Trust approved in 2019. Its dedication was delayed by the pandemic, and more than 120 people gathered for the ceremony on June 8, 2021. The sign was placed by the Maryland Historical Trust and the State Highway Administration.
Before You Go
The marker sits along a busy state highway, so pull fully off the road before stopping to read it. Several other markers stand nearby in the Oakland and Mountain Lake Park area.
Address
2008 MD-135, Oakland, MD 21550