The Emergence of a UAW Local, 1936–1939: A Study in Class and Culture PDF
Preview The Emergence of a UAW Local, 1936–1939: A Study in Class and Culture
e mer ence o a oca, 1936 1939 A Study in Class and Culture Peter Friedlander The Emergence of a UAW Local, 1936—1939: A Study in Class and Culture Pots-r Frlodlander "Pct-Ir Frleolander's book In the moat Important social analysis of American workers In the 1930. yet written." —_Datrld:l Montgomery Systematic analyses of American industrial workers have been confined to the years he tore 1920. and accounts of unionization dur- ing the 19308 are uniformly limited in social analysis. Peter Friedlander fills this gap with a study that challenges the traditional: insti- tutional interpretation of union development by blending a clear account of the union- ization of a medium-sized factory with a social analysis of the participants in that process during four years of profound social Change. This study breaks from traditional oral history as well. F'riedlander interviewed one man. the union's key organizer and later its president. and worked intimately with him over approximately two years of discussion and mutual criticism. Rather than trying to avoid imposing his own theoretical frame— work on the respondent. Friedlander involved him in criticism and elaboration of that frame- work. The result is far removed from the ap- proach of “people telling their own story.” Friedlander is able to perceive within the body of workers distinct subgroups -- peasant immigrants. second-generation Polish P E T E R F R I E D L A N D E R The Emergence of a U A W Lucl 1936-1939 A .Study in Class and Culture U n i v e r s i t y o f P i t t s b u r g h P r e s s To Edmund Kom‘ Copyright © 1975, University of Pittsburgh. Press All rights reserved Feffer and Simone, Inc”. London Manufactured in the United States of Amarica Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data I} Friedlander, Peter, birth date The emergence of a UAW local, 1936-1939. Includes index. 1. International Union, United Automobile Workers , of Arne-riea—(CIOFHistory. 2.. Trade-unions— Automobtle industryr workersw United States-Case studies. L Title. I HD6515.A3F74 331.88’12'920973 74-26020 Iii-82298 ISBN 295-4 C o n t e n t s Acknowledgments ix Introduction: Theory, Method, and Oral History 1 In the Beginning 3 Background 3 First Efforts and the Emergence of Cadre 10 Early Confrontations 22 Breakthrough: The Second-Generation Poles 22 The Breakdown of Authority 33 Offensive 38 The Battle of the Buttons 38 Psychological Warfare 42 Negotiations: The Choreography of Power 48 Expansion 54 Rapid Growth 54 The Bert Robertson Affair 56 The A] Schein Affair 59 Leadership: The Emergence of Kord as President 62 Applying the Pressure: The Absorption of the Fringes 66 Factionalism 7 l Disputes Over Seniority 7] Wildcat Strikes 7S Consolidation 80 The Dues Strike 80 Colonization of the Toolroorn 83 The Slowdown 87 Aftermath 91 viii Contents 7 Culture and Structure 93 Leadership and Bureaucracy 93 Ethics, Morality, and Attitudes Toward Authority 97 Socialists, Catholics, and Syndicalists 103 8 Conclusion: The Union and the Outside World 111 Region 1 115' The Auto Workers: Cadre and Radicals 119 The Auto Workers: Conservative Tendencies 127 Notes 135 Index 1 49
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