Auto-Lite Strike
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In 1934, workers at the Electric Auto-lite plant in Toledo, Ohio went out on strike to demand better conditions. Organized by the American Workers Party, the strike was one of the bloodiest strikes of the 1930's. Two strikers died, more than 200 were injured, and dozens were maimed for life.[1]
As the company brought in 1800 workers to break the strike, the employees organizing the effort got angry. A letter was written to Judge Stuart telling him of the intention to break the injunction against public demonstration of more than 25 workers.[2] The organizers had been working hard to organize the unemployed of Toledo and the surrounding area, and they believed they had strong support because of the anger of the Toledo workers. It was the movement to organize the unemployed workers of Toledo that allowed the effort to be successful. They were made to see it was in their own best interest to not cross the strike line, and thus, they were compelled to recognize the struggle of the workers.
The mass picket lines started out small, picking up to 10,000 on May 23 of that year. Initially the employer brought out a high pressure hose to ward off strikers, but the workers were able to overtake the hose. The police came out and tried to establish peace and order. When they attempted to arrest workers, the masses prevented the workers from being taken away. The National Guard came in after the police, but company guards and deputies failed to establish peace. On first day they were there, the National Guard fired without warning on the crowd, killing two and wounding 25. The National Guard attempted many times to establish peace with methods including tear gas, vomit gas, bayonet charges, and even rifle fire; however, the workers kept coming back.
On June 4, the company surrendered and signed a contract with the striking workers and their union. The workers received a 5-percent wage as well as other gains; all the charges against them were dropped.
The agreement at the Auto-Lite plant led to the right to collective bargaining. The rest of the Toledo auto plants were unionized within the year.[3]
There is a humorous story about a group of women taking and grabbing a scab and stripping him leaving his shoes and tie. This image was then printed in the Toledo Blade.
There is a Seattle based band calling themselves Auto-Lite strike.
