Detroit – The Labor Movement Despite Detroit’s Image as a Union Town, before 1910, unions in Detroit were unsuccessful and one labor leader was quoted as saying that Detroit was a “poor union town.” Most unions before 1910 were Trade Unions, that usually only represented “skilled workers.” Even in the years between 1910 and 1920, when the city’s population grew dramatically, the only unions that were growing were those for skilled workers, which did not include Automobile workers. Attempts to organize auto industries in 1903, 1910 and 1913 failed as did a strike at the Studebaker plant in 1913.

Detroit – The Labor Movement The Auto industry was difficult to organize because: Auto Industry Workers already made more that most factory workers. On average $2.78 a day, compared to $2.19 for other factory workers. Existing unions saw the industrial workers as unskilled an not worth organizing. Auto workers were from different parts of the world and often spoke many different languages, so it was difficult to organize across the many smaller sub-groups Most importantly, workers were seen as easily replaceable since, the work was considered easily, and unions feared that factory owners would just find replacements if workers tried to strike.

Detroit – The Labor Movement In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President in the United States. In 1933, Roosevelt signed the National Industrial Recovery Act, which gave workers collective bargaining rights. In 1933, 1934, and 1935, strikes at individual plants were unsuccessful in gaining rights for auto workers. In 1935, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) attempted to organize across the many auto workers for the many auto companies, in what would become the United Automobile Workers (UAW) which later broke from the AFL. In late 1936, the UAW began using sit-down strikes to try and force General Motors to negotiate, first in Flint and later in Detroit.

Detroit – The Labor Movement In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President in the United States. In 1933, Roosevelt signed the National Industrial Recovery Act, which gave workers collective bargaining rights. In 1933, 1934, and 1935, strikes at individual plants were unsuccessful in gaining rights for auto workers. In 1935, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) attempted to organize across the many auto workers for the many auto companies, in what would become the United Automobile Workers (UAW) which later broke from the AFL. In late 1936, the UAW began using sit-down strikes to try and force General Motors to negotiate, first in Flint and later in Detroit.

Detroit – The Labor Movement When Flint workers learned that G.M. planned on moving die work out of Fischer plant #1, the workers staged an impromptu sit-down strike. The strike started on December 30 th, When The workers occupied the plant, a Judge ordered them out. But the judge owned $200,000 in G.M. stock, and therefore was not qualified to hear the case. When police arrived on January 11 th, 1937, workers sprayed them with fire hoses and threw auto parts at them. The UAW women’s auxiliary broke windows in the plant so that tear gas would not be affective in the plant.

Detroit – The Labor Movement

The sit-down strikes in Flint lasted into February, when on February 1 st another court order was issued for them to leave the plants. Instead the workers added another plant to list of factories that they occupied. During the final days of the strike, Governror Murphy sent in the national guard, to protect workers from strike- breakers. After the added occupation, G.M. was willing to negotiate, and on February 11 th, after 44 days of the strike and ten days of negotiation, G.M. signed an agreement that recognized the U.A.W. as the union representing its workers.

Detroit – The Labor Movement

A list of union demands included: Recognition of UAW as sole bargaining agency. Abolition of piece work in favor of straight hourly rates. A 30 hour week and 6 hour day, with time and a half for overtime. A "minimum rate of pay commensurate with an American standard of living." Seniority rights based on length of service. Reinstatement of all employes "unjustly discharged." Mutual agreement on "speed of production."