Реферат: Autolite Strike 1934 Essay Research Paper Strikes

May, with demands that the plant be closed and the Guard withdraw,

another tragic confrontation occurred. The crowd attacked the Guard, 200

were injured and 50 were arrested.

The plant remained closed for the following week and did not reopen

until June 5. At this point, the strikers had emerged victorious. After all the

hardships, injuries, and deaths, the union had been established and

recognized. This was a shallow victory at first due to a number of

circumstances. First of all, the old workers who remained at work

throughout the strike had preference during the rehiring process.

Secondly, betrayers who associated themselves with management formed

their own bargaining organization called the Auto-Lite Council. This

organization acquired for them preference in rehiring.

The Auto-Lite Council soon diminished in numbers, while Local

18384 was increasing dramatically. This was due to the realization that

the strikers were the ones who had won them collective bargaining, not the

Auto-Lite Council. Therefore, their loyalties lied with the organization that

had created the situation in which they had more power, respect, and

better working conditions.

The Auto-Lite strike is a perfect example of how the labor movement

has advanced. The first strike only involved a mediocre 15 men. The

second strike reached out to about 50% of the work force. The men and

women of Auto-Lite had embraced their union and made it their own.

This represents the labor movement because at the start only about

3 million workers were unionized. At the pinnacle of the movement nearly

50% of the work force was organized, the number was in excess of 10

million individuals. Workers saw how the union could help them. They

saw solidarity and unity, which when combined produced a force to be

reckoned with. The union provided for higher wages, more benefits, and

better working conditions. This idea is what attracted more members and