Introduction

In early 1978, Neil Leighton, a political science professor at the University of Michigan-Flint, went to an academic conference at Duke University. While there, he ran into Professor Laurence Goodwyn...(more>>)

Organization

Working on the line at General Motors in Flint was a job many men needed desperately in the 1930's, but it was also tremendously difficult. Terrible working conditions, combined with unfair and devious payroll practices, made the auto plants of Depression-era Flint into ripe locations for union organization...(more>>)

Strike

On the night of December 30, the majority of employees who had been working their shift at Fisher 1 and Fisher 2 left the plants. Some left only to celebrate the New Year and returned later. Others took up picket and food-gathering activities on the outside... (more>>)

Aftermath

The strike was settled on February 11, 1937. The UAW did not win all of its demands, but gained an agreement from General Motors to recognize the union in the struck plants and to allow the union exclusive rights for six months to organize in the other plants. The company also agreed not to discriminate...(more>>)

AUDIO TIMELINE
STRIKE MAP

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