The Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike
This strike started because two men were crushed to death by a malfunctioning truck. Over 1,300 African Americans were so fed up with the company that they decided their only option was to go on strike and the union came to a unanimous agreement.
During this strike the workers refused to go back until the received higher wages, safer working conditions, and recognition of their union.
Many officials were angry with this strike because of other things this was causing. Some of the results of this would be tons of trash on the streets and really bad odder from all of the trash and debris. The workers organized sit-ins, boycotts (city-wide), and even daily marches they were unable to reach their goal of getting concessions from municipal officials.
Martin Luther King Jr. also got involved in this. He agreed to come to Memphis and lead a non-violent demonstration to show his support for the sanitation strike. Thousands of supports marched and carried around " I am a Man" signs. the strike ended soon after this.
Martin agreed to come to Memphis and make his last speech. He was assonated about two months after the "I am Man" non violent protest.
About two weeks after his assassination the workers agreed to end the strike because the company agreed to give African Americans a raise and recognize the union.
http://crdl.usg.edu/events/memphis_sanitation_strike