Hundreds of longshoremen, Bridges included, waited outside the hall when the teamsters went into session that Wednesday night July 11). Mike Casey, O'Connell, and Kidwell backed a plea from the board to delay their walkout until Monday, at least. A noisy and determined audience listened impatiently, clamoring insistently to hear Bridges. When he was finally brought in, the teamsters gave him a rousing ovation. Casey introduced him: "I give you the man of the hour." Bridges reminded the men of past defeats and warned, "The entire labor movement faces collapse if we maritime workers are defeated. If you fellows join us, you will double our power." Casey asked for questions. Had he (Bridges) been run out of Australia, identified with a red organization there? If he had, Bridges replied, he would have been found out long ago. What about arbitration? He personally opposed it, but the members will vote on it. When Casey called for the yes votes, thousands of hands went up; only a few responded to the call for no votes. John O'Connell announced the vote: "The ayes have it and the no's know it." Casey told the teamsters: "You'll go out like gentlemen with nothing to be ashamed of. Of course, you'll be allowed to do the decent thing. Don't worry, the children can eat and have their milk. Retail food deliveries won't be affected. And bless you, San Francisco may have its beer. The brewery drivers are a separate group." Casey later told Eliel that the union "was out of control," blaming it on communists unsympathetic with the traditional labor viewpoint, some wanting a change in leadership, some who saw it as a lark.

In the East Bay, teamsters walked out at midnight, though a few retail deliveries continued until 7:00 A.M.; in San Francisco, they left their jobs at 7:00 A.M. the next morning.