1. Organized Labor During the Great Depression
Emboldened by the Wagner Act and taking advantage of the mild economic recovery, organized labor made unprecedented gains between 1935 and During this period, CIO-affiliated unions used new tactics such as “sit-down” strikes to successfully organize unskilled workers in several industries. Although many employers responded with violence and red-baiting, they were not as successful without sustained government support.

2. The Wagner Act, 1935 (National Labor Relations Act)
Guaranteed workers’ right to bargain collectively
Prohibited firing workers on account of union membership
Required that employers negotiate w/ elected union officials
Created National Labor Relations Board (NCLB)
Set procedures for resolving conflicts, but also attached sanctions to illegal “wild cat” strikes

3. Union Membership

4. The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
-AFL split between more conservative skilled craft unions and more militant unskilled industrial unions
-1935, John L. Lewis, head of United Mine Workers establishes Committee of Industrial Org.s w/in AFL
-CIO breaks away after AFL suspends unions associated w/ Lewis’ Committee
John L. Lewis

5. Organizing the Auto Industry
-United Auto Workers attempted to organize Ford, GM, Chrysler
-Intensely resisted by management
-Workers used “sit-down” strike…
-Michigan governor refused to use national guard
-GM, & Chrysler agreed, but Ford held out until 1940
A Sit-Down Strike, GM Plant
Flint, Michigan 1936

6. The Battle of the Overpass
Ford’s “Service Dept.” (private police force) beat a striker passing out union flyers outside a Ford’s River Rouge plant, 1937.
When Time magazine published photos, Henry Ford pulled all advertising from Time, Life, & Fortune magazines.

7. The Memorial Day Massacre
-Chicago’s South Republic Steel Mill resisted unionization, granted concessions but refused to recognize union… Labeled strikers Communist & formed “Citizens Committees to deny strikers community support… -Memorial Day, 1937, Workers’ families marched to mill to support workers… a marcher throws something & police respond firing into crowd of retreating people
10 Dead (7 shot in back), 30 others suffered gun shot wounds including 1 woman & 3 children…

8. San Francisco Dock Workers’ Strike
1934, San Francisco Longshoremen went on strike… Violence erupted as the “Industrial Association” brought in scabs… workers threw rocks, police responded w/ shotguns… 2 workers killed… Leader Harry Bridges (a communist) called for a “general strike,” 130,000 responded… workers won.