1. 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

2. 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

3. 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
Led a successful strike for a minimum wage and slower pace of work
Helped in the success of the United Auto Workers (UAW)

4. 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

5. “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.