Unions: A New Friend at the Factory Michigan History 13-2 WHG 6.2.3 Contact Kate Morland to do what’s my assembly line in the Museum

Issues with Early Unionization Major companies didn’t like Unions They gave workers more rights and power Major divide between skilled an unskilled workers Unions supported skilled workers (electricians, designers/engineers) instead of unskilled (manual labor, cleaning) Michigan was an “open shop” state As a worker, you did not have to belong to a union in order to work As opposed to “closed shop” where you wouldn’t be hired unless you were in a union

The Reuther Brothers and the UAW Walter P. Reuther moves to Detroit to work at Ford Lost his job when he became friends with known Communists 1936 - Led a successful strike for a minimum wage and slower pace of work Helped in the success of the United Auto Workers (UAW)

The GM Sit-Down Strike/The Battle of the Running Bulls December 30, 1936 – Workers at GM’s factory in Flint sat down on the job and refused to work They blocked other workers from coming in They blocked equipment from being moved out Their was great concern that the factory would be closed and moved They were tired of work increasing with no increase in pay and no job security January 11, 1937 – Police arrive and fire tear gas Strikers respond by launching door hinges and turning on the water hoses Police respond by shooting at the strikers February 11, 1937 – GM gives in, allows the UAW to represent the workers

“The Battle of the Overpass” 1937 – Reuther attempted to bring unionization to Ford Motor Co. Ford Motor Company sent a group of men who beat up Reuther and his supporters Ford resisted union organization until 1941 Michigan Historical Museum – Lansing, MI.