Exploring the rise of the CIO through major victories in rubber, auto, and steel industries. Highlights include the Goodyear complex strike, the iconic General Motors strike, and a successful steel organizing campaign. The podcast discusses the impact of sit-down strikes, the role of Governor Frank Murphy, and the challenges to private property. It also examines the reasons behind the CIO's success and the media and political reactions to the labor movement.
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Quick takeaways
Sit-down strikes like the one in Akron, Ohio, were a successful tactic for gaining union recognition and better working conditions.
The victories of the sit-down wave and the rise of the CIO instilled fear among mainstream media and politicians, signaling potential labor reordering and changing power relations.
Deep dives
Sit-down strikes as a successful tactic
The Flint strike, with its occupation of factories, was a visible and successful tactic in disrupting production and gaining workers' rights. It inspired copycat organizing across various industries. Sit-down strikes allowed workers to take control of the whole enterprise and achieve victories in union recognition and better working conditions.
Major Victories in Rubber, Auto, and Steel
The initial major victories of the CIO were achieved in the rubber, auto, and steel industries. The rubber workers' strike, including the famous sit-down strike in Akron, Ohio, resulted in union recognition and improvements in working conditions. The sit-down strike at General Motors in Flint, Michigan, brought the company to the negotiating table and led to a significant victory for the UAW. Additionally, an agreement between the CIO and US Steel recognized the CIO as a representative for most of the US Steel workforce.
The Power of Sit-down Strikes and Their Limitations
Sit-down strikes were a powerful tactic that gained attention and showed workers' dedication. However, they had limitations and were difficult to sustain. The CIO leaders recognized the need to channel sit-down strike energy into more conventional union activity. The tactic was also declared unconstitutional in 1939. The success of sit-down strikes depended on factors like local solidarity and the actions of government authorities.
Implications for Labor and the American Society
The victories of the sit-down wave and the rise of the CIO signaled a moment of potential labor reordering and changing power relations in the American economy. While perceived as a threat to the sanctity of private property, the successes of sit-down strikes instilled fear among mainstream media and some politicians. The labor movement's progress created a sense of revolution and turbulence in the country.
On the third episode of Organize the Unorganized: The Rise of the CIO, we examine the first major victories of the CIO in rubber, auto, and steel. The story begins at the Goodyear complex in Akron, Ohio, where a victorious strike put the CIO on the map. We turn to the General Motors strike in the winter of 1937, a transformational victory and perhaps the most iconic confrontation of the period. Finally, we hear about an important steel organizing campaign, whose success was drawn in part from the threatening militancy of the CIO.
Find all the episodes on the web, or by searching for "Organize the Unorganized" on your podcast app.
Organize the Unorganized: The Rise of the CIO is a limited-run history podcast telling the story of the CIO through the voices of labor historians. Hosted by Benjamin Y. Fong and produced by the Center for Work & Democracy at Arizona State University with Jacobin. Find the full show notes for this episode here: https://soundcloud.com/organizetheunorganized/episode-3-sit-down
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