Lecture Notes: The Sit-Down Strike at General Motors in Flint, Michigan

Introduction

• Context: The United States in the 1930s, post-Great Depression era.
  • The automobile industry was pivotal with major corporations like Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.
  • General Motors' empire centered in Flint, Michigan, a company town.
  • Poor working conditions and workers' rights issues prevalent.

Working Conditions in the 1930s

• Workers faced several challenges:
  • No sick benefits, overtime pay, pensions, holiday pay, or unemployment pay.
  • Speed of production lines was extreme, with insufficient breaks.
  • Fear of job loss was rampant due to high unemployment.

Rise of Labor Unions

• Roosevelt's New Deal: Provided legal protection for labor organizations.
• Challenges: General Motors employed Pinkerton agents to spy on union activities.
• Formation of UAW (United Automobile Workers) to organize workers secretly.

Planning and Execution of the Sit-Down Strike

• Fisher Body Works Plant:
  • Largest in the world, targeted for a strike by the UAW.
  • On December 30, 1936, workers were instructed to stop production and sit down.
  • The strike aimed for union recognition.

Life During the Strike

• Mixed experiences among workers:
  • Early excitement gave way to boredom and routine.
  • Strikers organized themselves with rudimentary patrols and self-made weapons.
• Support from outside the plant:
  • Women's Auxiliary group formed to support the strikers and their families.

Escalation and Conflict

• Battle of Bulls Run:
  • Police and corporation-employed forces attempted to end the strike by force.
  • Strikers resisted using factory materials as weapons.
  • Women played a significant role in supporting and encouraging men on strike.

Role of Governor Frank Murphy

• Intervention: Brought in the National Guard to prevent violence between strikers and anti-strike forces.
• Advocated for peaceful resolution and maintained utilities for strikers.

Complications and Strategies

• General Motors' Counteractions:
  • Propaganda against strikers, painting them as radicals.
  • Economic pressures mounted on strikers.
• Union Strategy:
  • Organized a decoy at Plant 9, while the main objective was to take Plant 4.
  • Successful in diverting attention and securing Plant 4.

Negotiations and Settlement

• Pressure: Roosevelt and Murphy pushed for a quick settlement.
• February 11, 1937: GM agreed to recognize UAW and not discriminate against strikers.

Outcomes and Legacy

• Victory for Workers: Union recognition marked a significant milestone in American labor history.
• Improved working conditions and wages for workers.
• UAW grew to become a powerful union.

Conclusion

• Impact: The strike set an example for other industrial workers across America.
• Celebration and reflection on the importance of organized labor and negotiation.
• Personal stories underscore the significant changes brought about by the strike.