Overview

The tumultuous Flint sit-down strike of 1936-1937 was the birth of the United Auto Workers, which set the standard for wages in every industry. Midnight in Vehicle City tells the gripping story of how workers defeated General Motors, the largest industrial corporation in the world. Their victory ushered in the golden age of the American middle class and created a new kind of America, one in which every worker had a right to a share of the company's wealth. The causes for which the strikers sat down--collective bargaining, secure retirement, better wages--enjoyed a half century of success. But now, the middle class is disappearing and economic inequality is at its highest since before the New Deal.Through the voices of those who lived it, journalist and historian Edward McClelland brings the action-packed events of the strike to life: the takeovers of GM plants, the violent showdowns between picketers and the police, Michigan governor Frank Murphy's activation of the National Guard, the actions of the Women's Emergency Brigade, and the tense negotiations that took place between labor leader John L. Lewis, GM chairman Alfred P. Sloan, and labor secretary Frances Perkins.In a time of great inequality and a gutted middle class, this dramatic story is a testament to what workers can gain when they stand up for their rights, revealing the middle class as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century and guiding our understanding of what we will lose if we don't revive it.

Full Product Details

9781662076633

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Edward McClelland is a journalist, a historian, and an author. His work has been featured in a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Chicago Reader, Salon, and Slate. The author of several books, including How to Speak Midwestern, Young Mr. Obama, and Nothin' but Blue Skies: The Heyday, Hard Times and Hopes of America's Industrial Heartland, he was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. For more information, visit EdwardMcClelland.com. Jeff Zinn is an experienced narrator, actor, and director with more than thirty years of experience. Best known for his work as the artistic director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, he has produced or directed more than 150 of their productions. He currently resides in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available