General Motors strike of 1936-1937

General Motors strike of 1936-1937. The strike was a pivotal labor dispute between General Motors and the United Automobile Workers (UAW), led by Walter Reuther, Roy Reuther, and Victor Reuther, which took place in Flint, Michigan, and involved Sit-down strike tactics, supported by Labor unions such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The strike drew national attention, with figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt, John L. Lewis, and Norman Thomas weighing in on the issue. As the strike progressed, it gained support from other Labor movement leaders, including A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin.

Background

The General Motors strike of 1936-1937 was preceded by a series of labor disputes and organizing efforts by the United Automobile Workers (UAW), which was founded in 1935 by Walter Reuther, Roy Reuther, and Victor Reuther, among others. The UAW was affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), led by John L. Lewis, which was a major Labor federation that emerged in the 1930s. The strike was also influenced by the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which protected the right of workers to form and join Labor unions. Other key figures, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Perkins, and Sidney Hillman, played important roles in shaping the labor landscape of the time.

The Strike

The strike began on December 30, 1936, when workers at the General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan, occupied the factory and refused to leave, using the Sit-down strike tactic. The strike was led by the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and involved over 140,000 workers at General Motors plants across the United States, including those in Detroit, Michigan, Cleveland, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio. The strike was supported by other Labor unions, including the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC), led by Philip Murray, and the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA), led by Sidney Hillman. The strike also drew support from Socialist Party of America leaders, such as Norman Thomas and Eugene Debs, as well as from Communist Party USA figures like Earl Browder.

Key Events and Turning Points

One of the key events of the strike was the "Battle of the Running Bulls," which took place on January 11, 1937, when National Guard troops and Flint, Michigan police attempted to retake the occupied General Motors plant. The event was widely publicized and helped to galvanize public support for the strike. Another key event was the meeting between John L. Lewis and William S. Knudsen, the president of General Motors, which took place on February 1, 1937, and resulted in an agreement to recognize the United Automobile Workers (UAW) as the sole bargaining agent for General Motors workers. The strike also drew support from other notable figures, including Langston Hughes, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie, who used their art to raise awareness about the strike.

Aftermath and Consequences

The strike ended on February 11, 1937, when General Motors agreed to recognize the United Automobile Workers (UAW) as the sole bargaining agent for its workers. The strike resulted in significant gains for the UAW, including improved wages, benefits, and working conditions for General Motors workers. The strike also helped to establish the UAW as a major force in the American labor movement, and paved the way for future labor organizing efforts in the United States. The strike's impact was felt beyond the Automotive industry, influencing labor relations in other sectors, such as the Steel industry, led by U.S. Steel, and the Agricultural industry, represented by the National Farmers Union.

Legacy of the Strike

The General Motors strike of 1936-1937 is widely regarded as one of the most significant labor disputes in American history, and its legacy continues to be felt today. The strike helped to establish the United Automobile Workers (UAW) as a major Labor union and paved the way for future labor organizing efforts in the United States. The strike also influenced the development of Labor law in the United States, including the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The strike's impact can be seen in the work of organizations like the AFL-CIO, led by George Meany, and the Change to Win Federation, founded by Andy Stern. The strike remains an important part of American labor history, and its legacy continues to inspire labor activists and organizers, including those involved in the Walmart and Fast food worker strikes, as well as those advocating for Workers' rights and Social justice. Category:Labor disputes in the United States