The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-08-24
Ely BEN LIFSCHITZ

The strike in Flint, Michigan was
one of those department walkouts to
which we have referred in the last
article as manifestation of the re-
sistance the workers in the Auto
mobile Industry are beginning to
show.
The strike broke out in the Oil
Sanding Department of the Fisher
Body Corporation in Flint, Mich.
The Fisher Body Corporation took
advantage of the change in the
Buick model to cut down the earn
ings of the oil sanders.
In spite of the fact that there is
added work on the 1929 Buick, the
company insisted that the oil sanders
do this work for the same prices
they received for the 1928 model.
Extreme Abuses.
The men working in the Oil Sand
ing Department have to stand all
day long in an inch or more of
oil. They are soaked externally and
internally with this same oil which
is extremely detrimental to the
health of the men, causing boils and
sores all over their body. This con-
slant source of irritation and poison
is the cause of much heart and
stomach trouble and obliges many
of the men to obey the doctors or
ders and quit.
The only response to the COM
plants of the men was demand by
the management that the men try
again to make up their regular earn
ings by speeding it up little bit
more. Finally, being convinced that
they would receive no consideration
from the company, the men went
out on strike Thursday, July 9th.
Elect Strike Committee, Present
Demands.
That evening the strikers sent a
committee to Detroit for the purpose
of obtaining the assistance of the
Auto Workers Union. With the help
of the organizer of the Auto Work
ers Union, Philip Raymond, the
strikers formulated set of demands
and elected Strike Committee and
Picketing Committee. The Strike
Committee was instructed to present
the demands of the strikers to
the company at once. The demands
of the strikers were as follows:
1. A % cent raise on coach and
coupe jobs.
2. A 10 cent raise on roof rail
panels and drip-melding panels.
3. A better grinding compound
instead of the oil furnished, and
more sandpaper.
a. Hot water for washing.
5. No victimization.
In the afternoon the committee re-
turned and reported the results to
the assembled strikers. They reported
that the company insisted that the
men return to work and try to earn
their usual pay at the old rate. If
this were found impossible, then the
company promised to adjust the
wages. The men unanimously re-
fused to depend on further promises
from. the Fisher Body &c. poration
and voted to continue the strike I'M
til their demands were granted.
Strike Holds Up New 1929 Model
By Tuesday the strike had seri-
ously held up production through
out the whole plant. The Buick
Motor Company was held up by the
lack of bodies. Many workers, both
in the Fisher body plant and the
Buick Motor Company were sent
home because of the tie-up in the
production.
Meetings were held in the after
noon opposite the Fisher Body plant.
During the week a large meeting
was held of about 800 workers in
the Labor Temple under the auspices
of the Auto Workers Union.
On Saturday, the 14th of July, a
meeting was held with representa-
tives from several of the other de-
represented the de-colonization the