Why did workers go on strike at the GM automobile factory in 1936?

Why did workers go on strike at the GM automobile factory in 1936?

The autoworkers were striking to win recognition of the United Auto Workers (UAW) as the only bargaining agent for GM’s workers; they also wanted to make the company stop sending work to non-union plants and to establish a fair minimum wage scale, a grievance system and a set of procedures that would help protect …

What technique did the United Auto Workers use to strike in 1936?

sit-down
Instead of walking out, they simply sat down and refused to leave. In Flint, Michigan, the United Auto Workers staged the first successful sit-down, forcing General Motors to come to terms.

What happened in the sit down strike in 1937?

The police, armed with guns and tear gas, attempted to enter the Fisher Body 2 plant on January 11, 1937. The strikers inside the plant pelted them with hinges, bottles, and bolts, led by Bob Travis and Rob Reather. They were able to withstand several waves of attack, eventually ending the standoff.

What was the outcome of the Flint sit down strike in 1937?

After 44 days of striking, GM President Alfred P. Sloan announced a $25 million wage increase to workers and recognition of the union. This was the first major victory for unionization in America’s history and its consequences were dramatic; within two weeks, 87 sit down strikes started in Detroit alone.

Why was the Flint sit down strike Dec 1936 to Feb 1937 such an important breakthrough for the CIO?

By Catherine A. Paul The Flint Sit-Down Strike is known as the most important strike in American history because it changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from a collection of isolated individuals into a major union, ultimately leading to the unionization of the United States automobile industry.

Why are sit down strikes illegal?

Unfair labor practice strikers defined. When the strike ends, unfair labor practice strikers, absent serious misconduct on their part, are entitled to have their jobs back even if employees hired to do their work have to be discharged.

Why was the Flint sit-down strike Dec 1936 to Feb 1937 such an important breakthrough for the CIO?

How did the UAW get started?

1930s. The UAW was founded in May 1935 in Detroit, Michigan under the auspices of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The AFL had focused on organizing craft unions and avoiding large factories. Lewis formed the Committee for Industrial Organization within the AFL at its 1935 convention, creating the original CIO.

Why was the sit down strike so effective?

The main reason why sit-downs are so effective is that it is impossible for management to use strikebreakers to defeat a strike, since the workers are literally sitting on the means of production. The very nature of factory occupations places control of the strike solidly in the hands of the strikers themselves.

How did the Flint strike end?

More than 4,000 National Guardsmen and 1,000 citizens and policemen surrounded Fisher No. 1 and its strikers. The strikers reduced their demands to just one: GM recognition of the UAW as the sole bargaining agent for workers. On February 11, GM gave in and the strike ended.

What caused the Flint sit down strike?

General Motors (GM) provided many men in Flint, Michigan with jobs in the 1930’s, but the working conditions were horrible and the pay was unfair. General Motors and their sympathizers found this sit-down form of protest to be an affront to American values, such as right to property (Michigan State University, n.d.).

What is GM strike?

The 1936–1937 Flint sit-down strike against General Motors (also known as the General Motors sit-down strike, the great GM sit-down strike, and other variants) changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from a collection of isolated locals on the fringes of the industry into a major labor union and led to the unionization of the domestic United

What is labor union strike?

Labor Union Strike. Labor unions strike despite the level of success of your company. And while most companies hope they can resolve collective bargaining issues before they result in a work stoppage, a union strike still has the propensity to happen if the union is dissatisfied. To successfully operate during a strike,…

What is an United Auto Worker?

The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union—also known as the United Automobile Workers (UAW)–is a labor union mainly comprised of American automobile manufacturing employees but that also includes unionized casino and higher education workers. The UAW was at…

What is United Workers Union?

Workers United is an American and Canadian union which represents about 85,000 workers in the textile, commercial laundry, pharmaceutical, and gaming industries. After a lengthy and divisive internal leadership struggle within UNITE HERE , the union’s then-president Bruce Raynor led 100,000 members…