The First Sit Down Strike:

From December 30 1936- February 11 1937 GM workers took part in the first sit in strike. Organized by the newly created United Automobile Workers Union, who cut their teeth organizing in smaller plants, set their sights on the big player GM. This was a dangerous mission. GM owned Flint and its politicians.

GM controlled city politics in Flint and kept a close eye on outsiders. As Wyndham Mortimer, the first UAW officer put in charge of organizing the campaign in Flint, entered the town, he was noticed. The day after he entered Flint, in early June of 1936, he was being followed by people who were probably from the General Motors Company, “When he went through the front door, the other put his paper down and followed him out into the street. And thereafter, he or one of two others always managed to be with him”

GM also maintained an extensive network of spies throughout its plants. Mortimer concluded after talking to Flint auto workers that the existing locals, which had only 122 members out of 45,000 auto workers in Flint, were riddled with spies. Accordingly, he decided that the only safe way to organize Flint was simply to bypass those locals. Mortimer, Eric Branoff, Roy Reuther, Henry Kraus, and Ralph Dale began meeting with Flint auto workers in their homes, keeping the names of new members a closely guarded secret from others in Flint and at UAW headquarters.

The strike kicked off when two brothers were fired from a Body plant in Cleveland on December 30, 1936. The UAW declared it would not settle the Cleveland strike until GM reached a collective agreement with ALL of its plants.

At the same time, on December 30, 1936, the Union noticed GM moving important dies out of the Fisher #1 plant to be sent to other factories. In others words, the game was up—GM knew that the Flint factory was a Union stronghold.

UAW lead organizer Bob Travis immediately called a lunchtime meeting at the union hall across the street from the plant, explained the situation, then sent the members across the street to occupy the plant. The Flint sit-down strike began.

A conventional strike at the time would have included picketing outside the plant. This would lead to clashes with the police and Scabs sent in by the company. A sit in strike allowed the workers to deny GM any scabs and any production whatsoever.

The Flint sit-down strikers set up their own civil system within the strike. A mayor and other civic officials were elected by the workers to maintain order within the plant. Departments included Organized Recreation, Information, Postal Service, and Sanitation. All rules were enforced by what was called a “Kangaroo Court” by the workers. Any person who broke the rules was given a trial, and punishments ranged from washing dishes to expulsion from the plant (in the most extreme cases). It was important for the strikers to maintain order in the plant; if property damage occurred, the Governor would intervene with the National Guard. In addition to maintaining order, the civic government also insured a steady stream of supplies from friendly vendors outside the plant. Most of the meals for the approximately 2,000 workers occupying the plant were provided to the workers free of charge by a diner across the street.

On January 11, 1937, the police attempted a siege on the Fisher #2 body plant. Armed with guns and tear gas, the police entered the building. The workers rained down bottles, bolts, hinges, anything they could. After several waves of attacks the police retreated. 14 strikers were injured by gunfire.

Governor Frank Murphy mobilized the National Guard in response. But Murphy was labour friendly and used the National Guard as a peacekeeping force.

On February 2, 1937, GM was able to get another injunction against the strikers, granted by Judge Edward S. Black. But, Judge Black was barred from the case after the Union discovered he owned 3000 shares in GM. The union ignored the order, and the Governor Murphy refused to enforce it with the National Guard. The plan was to spread the strike to Chevrolet Plant #4. But, to avoid letting GM know their plans, they hinted at another plant that they were to go after and at the last minute changed it to Plant #4. But there was a spy in the UAW. GM got wind of the new plans and were waiting at the Chevrolet Plant #4

By the 44th day the strike had spread to 17 GM plants and the Union was refusing to budge. Governor Murphy would not give the order for the National Guard to move in and forcibly end the strike.

Governor Murphy’s decision is considered the biggest factor that forced GM to the table. GM knew they had to do something, even President FDR, urged them to negotiate. GM caved and came to the negotiation table.

GM agreed not to fire or retaliate against striking workers, gave 5% pay raises and workers were allowed to talk about Union affairs at lunch. The success of the strike cemented the legitimacy of the newly formed United Automobile Workers Union. In the next year membership in the union grew from 30,000 members to 500,000. Workers from other manufacturers like Ford joined and the automobile industry was rapidly unionized.

BBC declared the strike, “The strike heard 'round the world.”

In April 1937, inspired by the success of the American strike, 3,700 (6.7% of the population of the town at the time) workers walked off their jobs in the Oshawa GM plant in Ontario, Canada. They demanded, an 8 hour work day, better wages and working conditions, seniority system, and recognition of their union, The UAW. GM capitulated in under three weeks, fearing a loss of “Market Share.” Like in the United States, the success of the strike caused a surge in Union membership.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_sit-down_strike

https://oshawamuseum.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/the-strike-of-1937/

https://www.history.com/news/flint-sit-down-strike-general-motors-uaw

:specter: Written by @TheGhostOfTomJoad :specter:

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