On this day in labor history, the year was 1937.
That was the day over 1000 autoworkers at the Ford assembly plant in Kansas City, Missouri began their occupation.
The sit-down was the first strike by the UAW against Ford. UAW president, Homer Martin vowed to organize the entire company.
The strike had been called the previous evening, when workers learned 350 of their coworkers had been laid off at the end of the day shift.
They demanded reinstatement, higher wages, better working conditions and recognition of the union.
Workers spent a good part of the early morning hours welding the gates shut to the railroad yards and parking lots surrounding the plant.
Then, they selected an 18-man committee to direct the strike.
One leader, O.W. Penney stated: “… When the company forced the strike on us by unfairly laying off men because of union membership (some with 12 years on the job), everybody joined up with us.
We signed 200 outside the plant and they’re signing others inside.” Penney added, “The pay here is not as good as at either Chevrolet or Chrysler plants… The boys there have better sanitary facilities and a cafeteria, while we have to eat our lunches sitting on the floor.”
Strikers lowered a banner from the top floor of the plant that read, “Lincoln Freed the Slaves. Ford Brought Them Back.”
Ford insisted he would never allow his plants to be organized.
But company representatives spent the weekend negotiating a settlement with the UAW to rescind the layoffs.
By Monday, April 5 workers were back on the line.
Strike authorizations would flare up just two weeks later when Penney and another UAW organizer were beaten at the hands of company thugs.
February 7 - Strike at Cripple Creek
February 6 - Philly Garment Workers Win!
February 5 - The Fight for Craft Governance
February 4 - Solidarity on the Coast
February 3 - Anti-Trust Injunctions Used Against Labor
February 2 - The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
February 1 - A Pivotal Moment in the Flint Sit-Down
January 31 - The Big Easy Fires 7000 Teachers
January 30 - Fred Korematsu Day
January 29 - Bread & Roses Striker, Anna LoPizzo, Shot Dead
January 28 - The 1917 Bath Riots
January 27 - Bans on Yellow Dog Contracts Ruled Unconstitutional
January 26 - Sid Hatfield Stands Trial
January 25 - Solidarity Works!
January 24 - Arturo Alfonso Schomburg is Born
January 23 - If Poison Doesn’t Work, Try Briggs!
January 22 - Tragedy in the Mines & in the Union Hall
January 21 - On Strike for Health & Dignity
January 20 - The Flint Womens Emergency Brigades
January 19 - A Snapshot in Misery
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