Historical Significance of the Recent Automobile Workers Union Strike
The recent strike by the United Automobile Workers union against three major automakers simultaneously marks a significant moment in history for automobile workers.
It is a testament to the union’s confidence, harkening back to a crucial event that took place nearly 90 years ago.
The 1936 “Sit-Down Strike”
In 1936, a pivotal event unfolded when approximately 50 General Motors (GM) automobile workers took a bold stance against the largest automaker in the world at the time. This historic moment, known as the “sit-down strike,” was a demand for automobile workers’ rights to be taken seriously.
A Turning Point in Labor Relations
Despite its relatively small scale, the 1936 strike at GM’s Fisher Body Plant No. 2 in Flint, Michigan, had a profound impact on the American automobile industry’s labor landscape. The striking automobile workers sought improvements in working conditions and the recognition of unions as their representatives.
44 Days That Altered Labor History
The strike persisted for 44 days and is often recognized as one of the most significant work stoppages of the 20th century for automobile workers. It marked a turning point in U.S. industrial relations history, opening the door for widespread labor organizing and empowering automobile workers.
Revitalized Labor Movement and the Era of Electric Vehicles
Fast forward to the present day, and the auto union finds itself in a renewed position of strength, launching a strike against the “Big Three” in Detroit: General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (Chrysler’s parent company). This move aligns with a broader resurgence in the labor movement and coincides with a critical juncture in the transformation of the automobile industry toward electric vehicles, affecting automobile workers.
A “Stand Up Strike” for Modern Times
Under the leadership of union president Shawn Fain, this strike is deliberately named a “stand-up strike,” a stark departure from the “sitting strike” of 87 years ago, strategically targeting specific factories and reflecting an effort to modernize labor practices for automobile workers.
Historical Perspective on Labor’s Ongoing Evolution
Historian Thomas Sugrue of New York University observes that Fain’s approach is rooted in a deep understanding of labor history and aims to adapt and revitalize unions for contemporary challenges faced by automobile workers.
The rise of the auto unions
During the 1930s, auto union workers were faced with a multitude of grievances, including being compelled to work grueling rush hours on assembly lines, the unchecked authority of GM foremen to hire and fire at will, and wages that fell woefully short of providing for their needs. GM went to great lengths, resorting to espionage operations and threats of dismissal to disrupt efforts at union formation.
The Significance of Sit-Down Strikes
Sit-down strikes were gaining momentum in Europe during this period, significantly influencing the United Automobile Workers Union’s approach.
Labor journalist Steven Greenhouse, in his comprehensive work “Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor,” underscores the innovative advantages of sit-down strikes compared to conventional strikes.
Traditional strikes often saw police intervention and the swift replacement of striking workers by substitutes. In contrast, sit-down strikes enabled workers to occupy the factory premises, maintaining proximity to their workstations, and foiling attempts by management to employ replacement workers, often derogatorily referred to as “work thieves” or “scabs.”
Fearing damage to machinery and reluctant to provoke police confrontations, management hesitated to intervene hastily.
The Spread of the Sit-Down Strike
The sit-down strike that commenced at the Flint, Michigan plant quickly reverberated through other GM facilities across various cities, effectively bringing the company’s operations to a standstill.
On January 11, 1937, as the strike entered its second week, General Motors resorted to drastic measures, cutting off heating and power supplies and obstructing food deliveries to the factory.
This triggered confrontations between factory workers, General Security personnel, and Flint police, resulting in numerous injuries. In response, Michigan Governor Frank Murphy called in the National Guard, mandating negotiations between labor and management.
After 44 days of intense standoff, an agreement was finally reached, with GM officially recognizing the United Auto Workers as the bargaining representative for the union.
A Decisive Victory and Its Ripple Effects
For the union, this was an unequivocal triumph. A union leader conveyed to the New York Times that workers in other mass-production industries would draw inspiration from the auto workers’ struggle and be emboldened to seek similar rights.
Following the success of the “Sitting Strike,” the United Automobile Workers Union experienced a remarkable surge in membership. Between February and October 1937, membership figures skyrocketed from 88,000 to 400,000, ultimately reaching 649,000 by 1941.
The Birth of the Middle Class
The triumphant outcome of the United Automobile Workers Union’s “sitting strike” left an indelible mark. Subsequently, unions swiftly sprouted at Chrysler in 1939 and Ford in 1941.
Following suit, Detroit auto plant jobs became union-affiliated, with wage hikes and benefits becoming the gold standard for other manufacturing sectors. This development played a pivotal role in shaping the 20th-century middle class.
Joseph McCartin, a labor historian at Georgetown University, underscores the significant role of automobile industry employment in the creation of the American middle class throughout history.
Challenges to Unionization and the Decline of the U.S. Auto Industry
In recent years, the U.S. auto industry has faced formidable challenges from both non unionized domestic rivals and foreign competitors. These pressures have eroded UAW jobs and their accompanying benefits.
The peak of unionization in the United States occurred in 1945 when union membership soared to 33.4%. However, unionization rates have dwindled annually since then, with only 10.1% of the workforce belonging to a union last year.
The Legacy and Continuation of Automobile Workers Activism
Today, under the leadership of Shawn Fain, the United Auto Workers union aims to reignite the spirit of the 1930s “sitting strikes” in their pursuit of workers’ rights from GM. These “standing strikes” represent the current generation of workers responding to the rapid transformations in the auto industry and the perilous erosion of their rights, mirroring the circumstances of the 1937 sit-down strikes.
As union negotiations with the Detroit Three unfold, they carry substantial implications for the future of the automotive and manufacturing sectors, setting the stage for long-term consequences.
