Sit-Down Strikes

Henry Kraus Papers

drice — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:36:01 -0400

Mr. Kraus was the first editor of the UAW's newspaper The United Auto Worker (later changed to Solidarity). He was active in the early attempts by the UAW (first under the AFL and later under the CIO) to organize the auto industry. Files for the late 1920s and early 1930s cover the attempts by groups, including the Auto Workers Union of the Trade Union Unity League, to organize auto workers, and discuss such events as the Murray Body Strike (1929); the Ford Hunger March (1932); and the Briggs Strike (1933). There are many items pertaining to the AFL's work in the auto industry, such as material on the threatened auto strike of March 1934, the Toledo Auto-Lite and Chevrolet strikes of 1934 and 1935, and conferences and conventions of the UAW-AFL. The collection also has many files of the AFL's Detroit office for the early 1930s. Particularly well covered are the activities of the UAW-CIO from 1936 to 1940, including the South Bend Convention, the sit-downs, early attempts to organize Ford, and the Homer Martin controversy (resulting in the split of 1939). The Flint Sit-Down Strike and factionalism in the UAW are particularly well documented. Correspondents include nearly every major AFL, CIO, and UAW leader of the period. Among them are John Brophy, F. J. Dillon, Adolph Germer, William Green, John L. Lewis, Homer Martin, Rose Pesotta, Walter Reuther, and R. J. Thomas. Public figures include Charles Coughlin and Frank Murphy. Nine reels of microfilm complement content in Part I and are described in a separate guide.

Part 3 contains manuscripts, notes and research materials from Kraus’s three major books, as well as materials from his other books and writings including those on medieval art. Also included are transcripts of oral histories from a variety of individuals involved in the labor movement, especially those from the 1937 Flint Sit-Down Strike.

Guest Post: More than a Lawyer - Maurice Sugar

Public Relations Team — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:17:18 -0400

“Music hath charms to sooth a savage heart, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” –William Congreve 1670-1729

This quote, among others, was scribbled on notes belonging to the famous and first Labor Lawyer –Maurice Sugar, and can be found in the Reuther Library’s Maurice Sugar Papers. read more »

Subject Focus: Remembering the Flint Sit-Down

teller — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:52:57 -0500

Tired of reductions in pay and jobs, increased workloads, and harassment of United Automobile Workers organizers, on December 30, 1936 automotive workers in the General Motors Fisher Number One Plant in Flint, Michigan sat down on the job. For the next 44 days workers refused to work or leave the Fisher One and Two plants, and later Chevrolet Number 4. Michigan Governor Frank Murphy refused to order the strikers out, so GM attempted to expel them by shutting off the plants’ heat and electricity and by preventing food deliveries. read more »

(4715) Children, Pickets, Flint, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:27:40 -0400

Children carry pickets in support of the strikers on Women's Day during the Flint Sit-Down Strike, Flint, Michigan.

(11433) Homer Martin, Fisher Body, Cleveland, Ohio, 1937

eclemens — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:21:35 -0400

Homer Martin, president of the United Auto Workers, speaks to autoworkers during the Fisher Body Strike, Cleveland, Ohio.

(11434) Bendix Strike, South Bend, Indiana, 1936

eclemens — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:26:43 -0400

Auto workers enjoy a musical interlude from their makeshift band during the 1936 Bendix Sit-Down Strike, South Bend, Indiana.

(11435) General Motors Strike, Oshawa, Ontario, 1927

eclemens — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:32:34 -0400

Nearly 500 war veterans and clergymen line up in Memorial Park to protest the recruitment of 200 war veterans as special strike police for duty during the strike at the General Motors Plant, Oshawa, Ontario.

(11436) Kangaroo Court, Cadillac Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:41:45 -0400

A Kangaroo Court, held twice daily during the 1937 Cadillac Motor Car Company strike in Detroit, Michigan, maintained order within the plant. The courts were run by a committee of union members and delivered sentences against offenders that included sweeping floors, delivering food, and other work details.

(11438) Picket Line, Plymouth Plant, Chrysler Strike, Detroit, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:45:04 -0400

Auto workers at the Plymouth Plant warm their hands above a “salamander” during the 1937 Chrysler Sit-Down Strike, Detroit, Michigan.

(11439) Dodge Main, Chrysler Strike, Hamtramck, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:42:48 -0400

A band entertains the picket line outside of the Dodge Plant during the 1937 Chrysler Sit-Down Strike. Note: The man at the far left uses his homemade kosh or “blackjack” as a baton.

(11440) Lunch, Dodge Main, Chrysler Strike, Hamtramck, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:55:56 -0400

Workers at the Dodge Main Plant line up for lunch during their 1937 Sit-Down Strike against Chrysler, Hamtramck, Michigan.

(11442) Strike Calendar, Dodge Main, Chrysler Strike, Hamtramck, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:57 -0400

Men gather at the fence in front of the strike calendar at the Dodge Main Plant during the 1937 Chrysler Sit-Down Strikes.

(11443) Dodge Main, Chrysler Strike, Hamtramck, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:17:26 -0400

Strikers react after receiving word of the court writ that ordered them to evacuate their plants during the 1937 Chrysler Sit-Down Strikes.

(11444) Demonstration, Chrysler Strike, Cadillac Square, Detroit, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:01:04 -0400

An estimated 200,000 auto workers and strike supporters gather in Cadillac Square to demonstrate against the eviction of sit-down strikers from Chrysler Plants, Detroit, Michigan. At center, UAW president Homer Martin stands on the dais prior to his announcement that Ford would be organized in the near future. At the time it was thought to be the largest demonstration in the history of organized labor in the United States.

(11446) Richard Frankensteen, Murray Body Strike, Detroit, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:07:09 -0400

Richard Frankensteen addresses the workers of Murray Body Co. during their 1937 sit-down strike Detroit, Michigan.

(11447) Contract Negotiations, UAW, Chrysler, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:08:47 -0400

Michigan Governor Frank Murphy (center) watches as Walter P. Chrysler signs the agreement that ends the 1937 Chrysler Sit-Down Strikes. At his left is John L. Lewis. Behind Lewis is Richard Frankensteen.

(11448) Yale and Towne Strike, Detroit, Michigan, 1937

eclemens — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:14:57 -0400

The workers of Yale and Towne Factory are escorted out of their building by police officers, Detroit, Michigan. The workers, mostly women, defied a court injunction that demanded their removal from the premises during their sit-down strike. This result was an intense battle with nearly 400 policemen that ended only after the use of force and tear gas were introduced.

(11852) Hamtramck Federation of Teachers

jhelpap — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:13:15 -0400

Members of the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers conduct a sit-in. From left to right: Dana Wall (on the floor), Halina Zegota, Connie Andrews and Mrs. Richard Kulezycki

(32598) J4J civil disobedience, Los Angeles CA, 1995

gstrassel — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:50:08 -0500

Demonstrators participate in civil disobedience in support of contract negotiations during the Justice for Janitors campaign. Wilshire and Rodeo Drives, Los Angeles, California, 1995.