Today in Labor History December 30, 1936: Auto workers began their historic sit-down strike at the GM Fisher plant in Flint, Michigan. The protest effectively changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from a collection of small local unions into a major national labor union. It also led to the unionization of the domestic automobile industry. By occupying the plant, they prevented management from bringing in scabs and keeping the plant running and making money. Furthermore, by occupying the plant, they weren’t forced to picked outside in the snow. On January 11, police armed with guns and tear gas tried to storm the plant. Strikers repeatedly repelled them by throwing hinges, bottles and bolts at them. Fourteen strikers were injured by police gunfire during the strike. In February, GM got an injunction against the union by Judge Edward Black, who owned over three thousand shares of GM. The strikers ignored the injunction. And when the UAW found out about the conflict of interests, they got the judge disbarred. The strike ended after 44 days with GM recognizing the union and giving its workers a 5% raise. Filmmaker Michael Moore’s uncle participated in the strike. The first documented sit-down strike in the U.S. occurred when the IWW engaged in a sit-down strike against General Electric, in Schenectady, NY, in 1909.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #uaw #sitdownstrike #strike #union #gm #generalmotors #flint #michigan #IWW #newyork #generalelectric

Today in Labor History December 30, 1936: Auto workers began their historic sit-down strike at the GM Fisher plant in Flint, Michigan. The protest effectively changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from a collection of small local unions into a major national labor union. It also led to the unionization of the domestic automobile industry. By occupying the plant, they prevented management from bringing in scabs and keeping the plant running and making money. Furthermore, by occupying the plant, they weren’t forced to picked outside in the snow. On January 11, police armed with guns and tear gas tried to storm the plant. Strikers repeatedly repelled them by throwing hinges, bottles and bolts at them. Fourteen strikers were injured by police gunfire during the strike. In February, GM got an injunction against the union by Judge Edward Black, who owned over three thousand shares of GM. The strikers ignored the injunction. And when the UAW found out about the conflict of interests, they got the judge disbarred. The strike ended after 44 days with GM recognizing the union and giving its workers a 5% raise. Filmmaker Michael Moore’s uncle participated in the strike. The first documented sit-down strike in the U.S. occurred when the IWW engaged in a sit-down strike against General Electric, in Schenectady, NY, in 1909.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #uaw #sitdownstrike #strike #union #gm #generalmotors #flint #michigan #IWW #newyork #generalelectric

Today in Labor History September 16, 1945: 43,000 oil workers went on strike in 20 states. During WWII, most of the major unions collaborated with the U.S. war effort by enforcing labor “discipline” and preventing strikes. In exchange, the U.S. government supported closed shop policies under which employers at unionized companies agreed to hire only union members. While the closed shop gave unions more power within a particular company, the no-strike policy made that power virtually meaningless. When the war ended, inflation soared and veterans flooded the labor market. As a result, frustrated workers began a series of wildcat strikes. Many grew into national, union-supported strikes. In November 1945, 225,000 UAW members went on strike. In January 1946, 174,000 electric workers struck. That same month, 750,000 steel workers joined them. Then, in April, the coal strike began. 250,000 railroad workers struck in May. In total, 4.3 million workers went on strike. It was the closest the U.S. came to a national General Strike in the 20th century. And in December 1946, Oakland, California did have a General Strike, the last in U.S. history. Overall, it was the largest strike wave in U.S. history. In 1947, Congress responded to the strike wave by enacting the Taft-Hartley Act, restricting the powers and activities of labor unions and banning the General Strike. The act is still in force today and one the main reasons there hasn’t been a General Strike in the U.S. since 1945.

#workingclass #LaborHistory#GeneralStrike #oakland #oilworkers #union #strike #strikewave #worldwartwo #tafthartley #uaw #coal #railroads #inflation #steel #wildcat

Today in Labor History September 16, 1945: 43,000 oil workers went on strike in 20 states. During WWII, most of the major unions collaborated with the U.S. war effort by enforcing labor “discipline” and preventing strikes. In exchange, the U.S. government supported closed shop policies under which employers at unionized companies agreed to hire only union members. While the closed shop gave unions more power within a particular company, the no-strike policy made that power virtually meaningless. When the war ended, inflation soared and veterans flooded the labor market. As a result, frustrated workers began a series of wildcat strikes. Many grew into national, union-supported strikes. In November 1945, 225,000 UAW members went on strike. In January 1946, 174,000 electric workers struck. That same month, 750,000 steel workers joined them. Then, in April, the coal strike began. 250,000 railroad workers struck in May. In total, 4.3 million workers went on strike. It was the closest the U.S. came to a national General Strike in the 20th century. And in December 1946, Oakland, California did have a General Strike, the last in U.S. history. Overall, it was the largest strike wave in U.S. history. In 1947, Congress responded to the strike wave by enacting the Taft-Hartley Act, restricting the powers and activities of labor unions and banning the General Strike. The act is still in force today and one the main reasons there hasn’t been a General Strike in the U.S. since 1945.

#workingclass #LaborHistory#GeneralStrike #oakland #oilworkers #union #strike #strikewave #worldwartwo #tafthartley #uaw #coal #railroads #inflation #steel #wildcat

Today in Labor History July 8, 1968: A wildcat strike began in Detroit, Michigan against both the Chrysler Corporation and the UAW. At the time, the Dodge Hamtramck plant was 70% black, while the union local was dominated by older Polish-American workers. In response, black workers formed the new Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement. The Revolutionary Union Movement quickly spread to other Detroit plants: Ford Revolutionary Union Movement at the Ford River Rouge Plant, and Eldon Avenue Revolutionary Union Movement at the Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant. They united in 1969 in the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.

#workingclass #LaborHistory#DRUM #racism#revolutionary #union #wildcat #strike #autoworkers #detroit #michigan#DodgeRevolutionayUnionMovement#UAW#LeagueofRevolutionaryBlackWorkers #BlackMastadon

Today in Labor History July 8, 1968: A wildcat strike began in Detroit, Michigan against both the Chrysler Corporation and the UAW. At the time, the Dodge Hamtramck plant was 70% black, while the union local was dominated by older Polish-American workers. In response, black workers formed the new Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement. The Revolutionary Union Movement quickly spread to other Detroit plants: Ford Revolutionary Union Movement at the Ford River Rouge Plant, and Eldon Avenue Revolutionary Union Movement at the Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant. They united in 1969 in the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.

#workingclass #LaborHistory#DRUM #racism#revolutionary #union #wildcat #strike #autoworkers #detroit #michigan#DodgeRevolutionayUnionMovement#UAW#LeagueofRevolutionaryBlackWorkers #BlackMastadon

Union jobs provide economic and class advancement over generations. That's why billionaires and their Republican minions are so desperate to kill them.

#Unions#Labor#SupportLabor#TaxObsceneWealth#PayYourFairShare #VoteBlue #WGA#UAW#UPS#SAGAFTRA#OnStrike#SupportUnions#USPol

Union jobs provide economic and class advancement over generations. That's why billionaires and their Republican minions are so desperate to kill them.

#Unions#Labor#SupportLabor#TaxObsceneWealth#PayYourFairShare #VoteBlue #WGA#UAW#UPS#SAGAFTRA#OnStrike#SupportUnions#USPol