Not automatic : women and the Left in the forging of the Auto Workers' Union

"Sol Dollinger's remembrance of UAW's early days are juicy and provocative. His recall of those goofy internecine political battles within the union is tragic-comic. Yet they, united, even though hollering at each other, made GM, Ford, et al,recognize the union. The sequence involving Genora Johnson Dollinger, the heroine of the 1937 sit-down strike, is deeply moving and inspiring." --Studs Terkel "Should be read by every labor person who takes the principles of trade union history seriously. . . . Brings the history of the UAW up for a new survey of the events to include the men and women who would otherwise be unsung heroes or written out of history totally." --David Yettaw President, UAW Buick Local 599, 1987-1996 This story of the birth and infancy of the United Auto Workers, told by two participants, shows how the gains workers made were not easy or inevitable-not automatic-but required strategic and tactical sophistication as well as concerted action. Sol Dollinger recounts how workers, especially activists on the political left, created an auto union and struggled with one another over what shape the union should take. In an oral history conducted by Susan Rosenthal, Genora Johnson Dollinger tells the gripping tale of her role in various struggles, both political and personal. This Story Of The Birth And Infancy Of The United Auto Workers, Told By Two Participants, Shows That The Gains Workers Made Were Neither Easy Nor Inevitable - Not Automatic - But Required Strategic And Tactical Sophistication As Well As Concerted Action. Sol Dollinger Recounts How Workers, Especially Activists On The Political Left, Created An Auto Union And Struggled With One Another Over What Shape The Union Should Take. In An Oral History Conducted By Susan Rosenthal, Genora Johnson Dollinger Tells The Gripping Tale Of Her Role In Various Struggles, Both Political And Personal. Foreword / Kim Moody -- Organizing The Auto Industry, 1934-1948 -- The Toledo Auto-lite Strike, 1934 -- The Toledo Chevrolet Transmission Strike, 1935 -- Homer Martin Leads The Uaw -- Factional Warfare Breaks Out, 1937-1938 -- A Program For Peace -- R.j. Thomas Elected Leader As Recession And War Preparations Hit -- The Uaw Organizes The Ford Motor Company, 1940-1941 -- Equality Of Sacrifice? -- Anti-union Forces Take Revenge -- Briggs And The Mafia -- Reuther Slams The Door On Union Democracy, 1947-1948 -- Oral History -- Striking Flint: Genora Dollinger Remembers The 1937 Sitdown -- Putting The Record Straight -- Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval -- Who Led The Flint Sitdown To Victory? On The Rewriting Of History -- Epilogue: The Auto Unions Today. Sol Dollinger And Genora Johnson Dollinger. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 205-207) And Index. Sol Dollinger's remembrance of UAW's early days are juicy and provocative. His recall of those goofy internecine political battles within the union is tragic-comic. Yet they, united, even though hollering at each other, made GM, Ford, et al, recognize the union. The sequence involving Genora Johnson Dollinger, the heroine of the 1937 sit-down strike, is deeply moving and inspiring. --Studs Terkel Should be read by every labor person who takes the principles of trade union history seriously. . . . Brings the history of the UAW up for a new survey of the events to include the men and women who would otherwise be unsung heroes or written out of history totally. --David Yettaw President, UAW Buick Local 599, 1987-1996 This story of the birth and infancy of the United Auto Workers, told by two participants, shows how the gains workers made were not easy or inevitable-not automatic-but required strategic and tactical sophistication as well as concerted action. Sol Dollinger recounts how workers, especially activists on the political left, created an auto union and struggled with one another over what shape the union should take. In an oral history conducted by Susan Rosenthal, Genora Johnson Dollinger tells the gripping tale of her role in various struggles, both political and personal. Contents PART I ORGANIZING THE AUTO INDUSTRY, 1934-1948 Chapter I The Toledo Auto-Lite Strike, 1934 Chapter 2 The Toledo Chevrolet Transmission Strike, 1935 Chapter 3 Homer Martin Leads the UAW Chapter 4 Factional Warfare Breaks Out, 1937-1938 Chapter 5 A Program for Peace Chapter 6 R. J. Thomas Elected Leader as Recession and War Preparations Hit Chapter 7 The UAW Organizes the Ford Motor Company, 1940--1941 Chapter 8 Equality of Sacrifice Chapter 9 Anti-union Forces Take Revenge Chapter 10 Briggs and the Mafia Chapter 11 Reuther Slams the Door on Union Democracy, 1947-1948 PART II ORAL HISTORY Chapter 12 Striking Flint Genora Dollinger Remembers the 1937 Sitdown PART Ill PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT Chapter 13 Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval Chapter 14 Who Led the Flint Sitdown to Victory? On the Rewriting of History Epilogue The Auto Unions Today Notes Bibliography Index