On this day in Labor History the year was 1945.
That was the day that 320,000 United Auto Workers went out on strike against General Motors.
The strike was part of a wave of work actions that washed over the country after World War II.
Workers were growing more and more frustrated that company profits were soaring while workers’ wages remained stagnant.
During the war, most unions had abided by ‘no strike’ pledges.
But once the war was over, workers wanted their fair share of the growing American economy.
In just one year 5 million workers participated in more than 4,500 strikes.
The GM strikers demanded a thirty percent pay increase.
Walter Reuther, President of the UAW, also insisted that the company could meet this demand without raising the prices of their vehicles.
He asked the company to open their books, so workers and the public could see the full details of company’s profits.
GM refused.
They characterized Reuther as a socialist for even making such an outrageous request.
During negotiations, Harry Coen, the GM assistant director of personnel, told President Reuther, “Why don’t you get down to your size and get down to the type of job you are supposed to be doing as a trade-union leader, and talk about money you would like to have for your people, and let the labor statesmanship go to hell for a while."
The GM strike lasted for 113 days.
The workers won a 17.5 percent pay increase, and improvements to vacation and overtime.
But they did not get to look at the GM books or gain a say in how GM vehicles were priced.
December 16 - No Justice, No Bagels!
December 15 - Troops Put Down the Mother’s March
December 14 - Another Hard Fought Victory
December 13 - The Beginning of the End of Apartheid
December 12 - We Disaffiliate!
December 11 - Right to Work is a Lie!
December 10 - August Spies is Born
December 9 - The Cordiner Doctrine
December 8 - The American Federation of Labor is Founded
December 7 - Strong Arming Goldminers
December 6 - Breaking Through the Racial Divide
December 5 - Striking in Solidarity
December 4 - Organizing to End Slavery
December 3 - Learning & Labor at Oberlin
December 2 - 21st Century Corporate Greed
December 1 - Standing Up for Themselves and Their Patients
November 30 - Angel of the Stockyards is Born
November 29 - The Fight for $15 & A Union
November 28 - Disaster in the Mines
November 27 - Death Trap in Newark
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